Fans of Lee’s Bakery and Kitchen in Chinatown will have to make other plans for pies this Thanksgiving. The longtime business on King Street announced it will be closed Nov. 20-23 because it doesn’t have enough staff or pie crusts — which they make by hand to meet the demand. Over the years, Hawaiians have grown to love these pies which has created a huge demand over Thanksgiving and into Christmas.

Owner Lee didn’t want to disclose how many pie crusts are needed to meet the holiday rush, but says it takes an entire year for workers to make them because they’re handmade and no machines are used. Clearly, this is a labor of love.

Thanksgiving is the bakery’s busiest and most profitable week. Every year, since they opened in 1981, people stand in long lines for their piping hot pies.

While it’ll be the end of a Thanksgiving Chinatown tradition, it will be the first time in decades the Lees will spend Thanksgiving week together at home and not behind the counter. Let’s be honest, family time should always come first, especially at this time of year. Lee’s Bakery will be open the day after Thanksgiving and normal hours after that. As usual, their pies are first come first served.