The landmark Flamingo Restaurant on Kapi'olani Boulevard will close for good Sunday, the restaurant's owner announced today.

Jean Shimabukuro, vice president of Flamingo Enterprises, said rising costs and the inability to secure a new lease led her to the decision to close the restaurant after 49 years in business. The Kapi'olani restaurant is the last of the chain of restaurants opened by Flamingo founder Steven Nagamine.

The Pearl City Flamingo restaurant, which is owned by a partnership that includes Nagamine family members, will remain open, Shimabukuro said.

The Kapi'olani Boulevard restaurant's closure means 37 employees will be without work. Shimabukuro said the Pearl City restaurant will be able to absorb one or two of the laid-off workers.