Greatly appreciate the staff letting us dine so late after our reservation! Our first dinner is Kauai to start our trip and it was fantastic. Loved the pork chop and the wine. Staff were attentive, patient, and friendly. read more

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We walked in around 5 and made it for their early dinner special. We decided to do one early dinner special (app, entree and dessert) for $50 and then ordered à la cart. It was a wonderful meal. We particularly enjoyed the scallop ravioli with the yuzu beurre blanc sauce and the fish and tom yum! I could eat that beurre blanc sauce with everything! Finished with a lovely deconstructed yuzu cheesecake! Look forward to revisiting next time we are in Kauai! read more

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As someone who has tried most of the restaurants on this island, I have always thought, and will always think that jo2 is by far one of the best food experiences that you can get on this island and for a reasonable price. You do not come here and try to change anything about any of the dishes. It is pure art. Every dish is an experience for the palate and it is wonderful. many things are farm to table, and the servers and bartenders are extremely well knowledgeable about each dish and the different alcohols offered. Over the years, I've tried nearly every dish on the menu and I can't say that there's a single thing I haven't enjoyed. Not only that but I am completely in awe every single time, no matter how many times I have tried it. Anytime I have bougie foodie friends in town, this is always a top destination for a dinner. however, nowhere is perfect, the ambience is very unassuming considering how amazing the food is. It is not your fanciest restaurant as far as decoration or table settings, etc. But if you ignore that, then it's fine. If they had a better ambience/location, this would be a five star restaurant through and through. It's always my number one recommendation when considering quality of food overall. read more

This place is a must try when you're on Kauai. Every dish we had was put together very well and tasted good. Staff was very pleasant and attentive. There is plenty of parking. Give them a try when you're in Kapaa. Alooooooha and happy eating. read more

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Where to start... I heard that this restaurant reopened in the middle of Oct 2025 due to the tragic passing of the executive chef (my condolences), so the sous chef is now Executive chef Megan. Our party of 6 enjoyed the scrumptious dishes served. I was glad that I was notified which dishes I was able to eat due to my crustacean allergy. I canʻt pinpoint which dish was my favorite since all were delectable. However, if I had to pick, it would be the scallop and ahi combo. The scallop was tender and ahi was cooked just right. So were the other dishes I tried - the beef cheek was also tender, the carrot ravioli - yum, and the tempura green beans - so good and not oily. Our party of 6 had such a great time - amazing food, great service and lots of laughs. Definitely try this place. Not sure how it was with the previous chef, but Chef Megan poured her heart into the dishes we ate. read more

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WOW! The food here was absolutely incredible -- every dish was bursting with flavor and so fresh. The service was just as amazing; there are two sisters who are a part of the server crew, make the whole experience fun and memorable. We thanked the chef on the way out. You can really feel the love and care they put into everything. We'll definitely be back! If you can snag a reservation, I highly recommend it. read more

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The service was very nice and our food came out at a fairly good pace although the entrees took a while. I think the overall experience was underwhelming because while the overall quality of the ingredients were good they were just not as tasty as I thought they would be. I was super excited for the scallop ravioli and while the brown drizzle of sauce on it was nice the overall dish was a little lackluster. Maybe I was expecting something different but the sauce tasted mostly lemony and the raviolis were barely stuffed. The three scallops they gave us in our entree were also nearly raw which was a little unpleasant. The worst part is that the portions were also very skimpy for the price and didn't feel justified. I think the best thing we had was the dessert. If the portions were normal I think it wouldn't be as bad. My husband and I are not huge eaters but still left hungry. That being said maybe we also just ordered the wrong things. I really wanted to like this place and was excited for it but unfortunately left feeling like it could have been skipped. read more

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All the best to the chef, keep going back to Jo2. Restaurant. Service is good, Amazingly hard to find this farm to table excellence. Food is so good and been a customer for almost 10 years. read more

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We had the Prix Fixe menu and loved it! Fun atmosphere with very attentive service. Good parking read more

JO2 Natural Cuisine - Asian Fusion Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Food was good. Service was good. I expected this to blow me away though, to be one of those places I tell stories about, stories that get more elaborate everytime I tell them. This place is solid, but it's not one of those. Menu is a good mix of Asian-inspired and seafood-centered dishes. Prices are high, but reasonable for this part of this island. read more

Something different from the typical Hawaiian style foods you'll find in Kauai. As far as "fine dining" goes this is just about my favorite and as a second time visitor this has not disappointed me many years later ! The prices are a bit higher than your standard fare here and the location may seem a bit out of place but it is absolutely worth it. Our server was delightful and there is an extra air of care for service here that you don't get elsewhere. On the east side of the island it's a bit of a drive from poipu at ~45 mins and I highly recommend reservations in case you decide to trek out there. Can't wait to come back again ! read more

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Food and service were excellent. Second time here and it's still satisfying. Dinner for four was delicious and well spent. Shout out to our server Nicole who was so welcoming. Early Dinner $50 (Bouillabaisse, Lemongrass Crusted Fish, Cheesecake & Red Wine)! Green Goddess Drink Green Been Tempura Beef Cheek Hokkaido Risotto Kama Panna Cotta dessert read more

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This place was amazing. We went on a recommendation from a trusted friend who frequently visits Kauai. This was the best meal of our vacation by far. Our server was so welcoming and knowledgeable about all the menu items. We started off with a couple of cocktails. Quite tasty and beautiful presentation. The first course we had was the crispy duck salad. This dish was very unique and incredibly tasty. For the main course we had the beef cheek and a fresh fish that I can't remember exactly what it was but it was delicious. Had the panna cotta dessert. Light and sweet. Very good. The vibe was casual but trendy. Very understated location in a mini strip mall. The focus was really on the food and almost completely locally sourced ingredients. We were so impressed by our food here. Would definitely recommend. read more

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Food is fresh, local & amazing Service is excellent, attentive Their 3 course early dinner is delicious and you experience farm to table food read more

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If you're from the mainland, you're gonna wait a long time for your dinner. We waited an hour and left. There are no hostesses to see you. There are three frantic servers running around the bartender was almost irritated at us for wanting drinks. I've also noticed that there are a lot of five star reviews for this place and I just can't understand it after sitting and waiting an hour and possibly more if we hadn't left... for food. As we were going out the door very unhappy the waitress said that they were shortstaffed in the kitchen. It would've been good to get that information on the front end so we can make a decision as to whether we want to sit and not eat for an hour. read more

Best meal in Kauai hands down. Definitely worth the drive from Lihue (it's really not that far). The early dinner special is so worth it. Great seating and booth tables available. Staff super kind and friendly. The fish is fresh and the vegetables are cooked so perfectly. The desserts were so delicious to end the evening. Everything was just so fabulous including the plating which were like works of art. We didn't mind the slight wait between dishes as it let us enjoy and digest. Left full and so happy. Highly highly highly recommend for locals and visitors!!! read more

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One of the top five meals of my life and I've had some amazing meals. Our server was so sweet and efficient. We were right by the kitchen and watching chef interact with his guests shows how much he truly cares. The crispy duck salad is not to be missed. The flavors, texture, everything was on point. We loved the braised beef cheek, it was melt in your mouth amazing and seasoned perfectly. The green beans are perfection, crunchy, salty, divine. We might be the anomaly because we didn't love the scallop ravioli, it was good but not blow your mind amazing. It fell a little flat compared to everything else. We can't wait to be back on the island and go to JO2! read more

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JO2 is the best restaurant on kauai ‍ I eat everywhere all of the time and JO2 is unmatched. -Butterfish was insane. Super light unlike most places that do a bold sauce to cover the fish -lobster pasta 10/10, that's the only way I want lobster -duck salad had many yummy components- pistachio, mushrooms, very crunchy piece of duck on top and plenty duck inside -ribeye was perfectly sauced with butter and I think rosemary and maybe a citrus. Flavors that make you go "hmmm" -loveeeddd the panna cotta I'd like to eat 10 more -surprised but I actually liked the bana cream pie. Probably because it wasn't an actual pie Service is pro! It's a smaller place with enough staff to give appropriate attention to each table. read more

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I found JO2 on YouTube review. This was listed by a couple as a must go place to eat while in Kaui. So after a fun day of golf we headed over to JO2. The restaurant located in a small strip mall seemed and was very simple , the inside very quaint and hostess was very pleasant. We started with a couple drinks and move right into the carrot ravioli so delicious as we shared every bite and lick the plate good . Then went right for the suggested dish on YouTube and it did NOT disappoint off the charts in flavor , texture and overall presentation . Dessert Chocolate Cream Brûlée we have to say was just ok and we both cherish a this dessert . Overall a great experience and our server Dana was awesome and made or dinner a pleasurable experience . JO2 is a must do fir you too while in Kaui Until next time .... read more

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After looking at a few forums of places to eat near our hotel in Kapaa, JO2 was highly recommended. I made a reservation for a Tuesday night and it wasn't busy when we arrived but was busy once we left. We opted to share a few small plates such as the oyster ravioli, hamachi crudo, tempura mushrooms and duck confit salad. Our waiter asked if we wanted to space out our food in a certain way and we just said to have the food come out when it was ready. About 10 minutes after ordering, our oyster raviolis and hamachi crudo arrived. Both plates were small and we ate both of them rather quickly. Consensus: the oyster ravioli presentation wasn't as nice as other photos of them shaped as dumplings, but the sauce was tasty, and the hamachi crudo was fresh and tasty. Then, we waited, and waited, and waited for our duck confit salad and tempura mushroom dishes. We waited probably 40 minutes before they arrived. I don't know if our waiter placed our order all together and the kitchen was slow, or if he placed the items in later. We'll never know. He was also pretty absent from our table and the table next to us. Once we finally receive the tempura mushroom and duck confit salad dishes, I placed an order or their cheesecake so we wouldn't wait too long. These two last dishes were tasty. The cheesecake arrived swiftly and that was our favorite dish of the evening. Overall, the food was good, just the timing of receiving our food was a little off. It's also a restaurant that tries to be elegant with a casual vibe which was a little confusing when we were trying to figure out what was acceptable to wear. read more

JO2 Natural Cuisine - Mocktail! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Great experience, thoroughly enjoyed the appetizer (poached carrot ravioli - ordered it to try something new and it was delicious!), entree (slow braised beef cheek - rich flavors and everything went well together), and dessert (manjari chocolate creme brulee - good flavor and texture). We also had the yuzu cheesecake, this was the only item I wasn't too fond of, it was a bit tart for my preference but aside from this, recommend all the other dishes. The server was friendly and service was pretty quick. Space was a little small but it was nice, would have liked better ventilation since we were by the kitchen and smells were good but strong and stuck to clothes. Overall, do recommend if you have a chance to visit! read more

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My husband and I, along with our family, celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary on September 2nd. We chose to dine at JO2 because of its rave reviews, but unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. We ordered three passionfruit martinis and one lychee martini. The passionfruit martinis arrived 20 minutes later, warm and no longer chilled. The steak was only seared on one side, and the Bolognese noodle bowl was incredibly dry--honestly, it was the worst dish I've ever had. To make things worse, my mother-in-law had bought us a bottle of champagne, but by the time it was poured, our glasses were no longer chilled. The worst part came when the server brought out a panna cotta with a candle, wished me a "happy birthday" (even though it was our anniversary), and quickly walked away without any real acknowledgment. Her response felt insincere, and the whole situation left us feeling completely let down. It's really frustrating when such an important occasion doesn't live up to expectations, especially when you're celebrating a milestone like a 30th anniversary. Very disappointed to say the least! read more

Wonderful gem of a spot, with excellent service, delicious and creative food, and a neighborhood restaurant vibe. High end food but in a casual setting. Especially enjoyed the mushroom tempura, scallop ravioli and Japanese fried chicken but honestly everything was good! read more

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Went back again. Fourth time here. They chef passed away about a month ago, so they're limiting the days they're open. Everyone was very friendly as usual. Food took a little time to come out, but was delicious as always. read more

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Adding a few more images from our latest meal there. Everything was outstanding as usual. read more

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We made a reservation for a nice dinner and JO2 was such a great choice! Walking into the restaurant it was decorated really well, with a lot of local artwork, specifically watercolor of flora and fauna of the island. The restaurant overall was also very clean with an indoor and outdoor area and full bar. The service was absolutely fantastic, super kind great recommendations. We started out with the lychee punch and unsweetened hibiscus tea, both were very fantastic and garnished well. They brought out bread with olive oil and balsamic which was okay. The star of the show was the seared Ahi tuna (6oz) and two large seared scallops on a bed of purple mashed potatoes and assorted veggies, including green beans and brussels sprouts, all serve served on a burre blanc yuzu sauce. Everything was cooked perfectly! I really liked the sear on the ahi and scallop, and I'm impressed by a brussels sprout with such flavor without grease. I was stuffed at the end! I would recommend JO2 for a nice dinner and there's space for a big party as well! read more

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We thoroughly enjoyed a fine dining experience at this small, intimate restaurant in Kapa'a. Every dish is perfectly executed and beautifully presented, a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. We had the Hokkaido scallop ravioli, the green bean tempura, the ahi & scallop combo w/yuzu beurre blanc, and the lemongrass crusted mahi. We've spent eight weeks vacationing on Kaua'i over the past three years, and this was one of the best meals we had. If you enjoy gourmet food, seek out this restaurant. read more

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The menu looked great, the service friendly and well executed. That is the reason for the 3rd star. The food, I am not sure if it was an off night but things simply were not great. Hamachi sashimi does not need to be drenched in sauce if it's fresh. Which it probably was but the sauce took away from the fish. The duck confit - if one does great job on the duck but places it under a mountain of overdressed, super strong dressing ..... the result is something that is hard to describe. The pasta dish with rabbit sausage and green beans - tasted like cooking 101 of culinary school - throw it in the pan and see what happens, give it a fancy name, they will order. Overall, quite disappointing but maybe it was an off night based on the other reviews. Overall, just a meh experience. read more

My partner and I celebrated our birthdays at JO2 on 7/23/25. We had excellent dinner service with Paka. He gave a great sake recommendation (Bunraku junmai ginjyo Blue Dress) and timing of courses was perfect. -crispy duck confit salad -Hokkaido scallop ravioli (a must) -slow braised beef cheek -lemongrass crusted mahi The scallop ravioli was a standout dish- the host tried to take the plate but we used the remaining sauce for the salad- it was soooo delicious. Everything was great! Loved that ingredients are locally sourced and the restaurant had a warm, inviting atmosphere. read more

Came here by recommendation online and our group was not disappointed. They, like a lot of amazing restaurants on the island, source local ingredients which means their menu changes constantly. Dana was amazing, and not only was she attentive, but provided amazing recommendations for all of us, on TOP of making sure our food restrictions for the kids were met. Everything. Was. Fire. The only thing I felt was underwhelming was the Tom Yum Risotto; but the octopus that accompanied it was amazingly tender and perfectly charred. The scallops were all fresh and delicious, + cooked to perfection. The Cornish hens was moist and crispy, and the Kuruboto Park was so tender and flavorful. Desserts were top notch (get that chocolate creme brulee. Wow!) The food paired with the service was a great experience for all of us. If we find ourselves back on Kauai, we will definitely stop in again! read more

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Went to a wedding in Kapaa and the reception was here and everything was AMAZING!! The food and the service was exceptional. This will be a place I come to every time I return to Kauai. I look forward to the next visit! read more

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Best place we went on the island! Sweet server named Nicole gave great service and recommendations. We loved the green beans, ahi scallop plate, sashimi, scallop ravioli (favorite) and the desert was out of this world. I had the Panna cotta and my husband had crème brûlée both were amazing. We drove from Hanalei and it was totally worth it. read more

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Branzino Entree was extremely under cooked similar in texture to sashimi. The meat was stuck to a layer of soft rubbery skin. Tempura green beans were a hit. Nice crunch and flavor. Hamachi/Ahi sashimi appetizer middle of the road. read more

We got a reservation for 5pm a couple weeks out before our Kauai trip. I ordered from the pre-fix menu, and hubby ordered from the regular menu so we could try different entrees. I started out with the honeybee empress drink, all the food came out soon after and all very beautiful and instagramable! Some are more mentionable than others so keep reading below. My pre-fix included: honeycomb salad minus the goat cheese - the honeycomb was interesting, however the salad was like any mixed greens lemongrass crusted mahi - this was a generous portion and very good. panna cotta with ice cream - we were stuffed by the time the dessert came. Hubby ordered: Scalloped Ravioli - The taste is fine, but tbh we couldn't tell if there was actually any scallop inside. Scallop risotto - this was very delicious with large pieces of scallop. So Ono! Lobster Tail linguine - very tasty and size lobster tail. I think their entrees are what stand out here, everything is sharable. And I feel one prefix and adding other entrees is the best way to get a taste of everything. read more

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Zero. Made reservation 6 weeks in advance. Received confirmation email the day before . Drove all the way from Hyatt Regency Poipu to Kapa. It was closed. Was my favorite restaurant on Kauai. Hope to try it again sometime read more

This staff is gracious, kind, thoughtful, accommodating, and all around excellent! When my wife and I got stuck on the Kalalau Trail they helped us reschedule our reservation and celebrated us with some delicious treats when we finally made it in! I recommend the Early Dinner Prefix Menu and go with someone to be able to split all the dishes for maximum tasting awesome-ness! read more

JO2 Natural Cuisine - The Prefix Appetizer spread with green beans - Asian Fusion Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Do you want a very tasty dinner made with the finest ingredients? You'll love JO2. Sooo yummy. Japanese/French inspired cuisine. Light fare with amazing flavors. Practically indescribable but melt in your mouth morsels. I had a seafood pasta with the yummiest of clams, fish and rabbit sausage. The Japanese style fried chicken is to die for. A varied menu with options for everyone. Dana was a wonderful server. The only thing I would add is that it was a little warm in the restaurant. I don't know if their a/c was out. read more

JO2 Natural Cuisine - Fried chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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The best meal we have had on Kauai. Flavors were bold and creative, but well balanced. It's a very broad menu and I wish we could have tried more (esp the veg dishes). Scallop and carrot ravioli (more like tortellini in shape) were my two favorites but the tempura green beans, togarashi encrusted shutome and scallop risotto were also very tasty. Risotto was a bit more like a moist rice pilaf in consistency, but still quite flavorful. Service was kind and food came promptly. If we had more time on the island and time away from the kids we'd definitely come back. It's more of a date spot vibe than family oriented. read more

JO2 Natural Cuisine - Togarashi crusted shutome - Asian Fusion Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Maybe you should start by just looking at the pictures of the food. I'm not sure we've been to a restaurant with food that looks so good in its closeup. Just absolutely beautiful. Honestly, I could go on and on about the food because it was that good. Really we enjoyed a truly excellent meal here. But instead I'll just focus on just one dish. They served a bolognese with salad. Not on the side, but as part of the dish. It was brilliant. Totally creative and delicious. That's the kind of restaurant that I would give 10 stars to if I could. Not to be missed... read more

Food 9.5/10 Ambiance 10/10 Staff 10/10 Price 9.5/10 Parking 8/10 Reservations 10/10 recommend Here is an excellent place if you are looking for seafood with a mixture of Asian and European flavors. Looking at the current and past menus, the chefs really change it up from time to time mixing in various Asian (Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indian), French, and Italian flavor profiles to their dishes. The highlight of tonight's meal was the Seared ahi and Hokkaido scallops, yuzu beurre blanc, vegetable medley (potato, brussel sprouts, green beans, zucchini). The ahi was cooked to perfection with a rare middle and featured two different sauces; my favorite being the yuzu beurre blanc. The Local honeycomb salad, (creamy goat cheese, crostini, tomato, arugula) was an excellent starter. I was worried the honeycomb would overpower the dish with its richness, but it had a wonderful balance with the goat cheese, tomato, and vinaigrette. The Hokkaido scallop risotto, basil, Tom Yum was another excellent choice. While ours was a little over al dente, it offered a wonderful flavor twist with Tom yum. The scallops had a dash of spice (like a sriracha mixture) that helped to round out the dish. This dish had me circling the bowl with my spoon to get every last bit. The Tom yum offered its usual appeal, with the sourness being slightly muted offering a nice balance to the rest of the dish. While the highlight was the ahi and scallops, this was the most memorable for me and something I'll want to try the next time I cook a risotto. We were also fortunate to receive the Hokkaido scallop ravioli with yuzu butter sauce, tobiko from the chef. It was a nice starter that offered the same yuzu beurre blanc as the ahi and scallop dish. The ravioli was light and worth sharing if you are getting a different entree (ahi and scallop); to have more variety instead of the same sauce. Normally, I would not have gotten multiple scallop dishes, to get some variety, but my wife doesn't eat cooked fish; such a tragedy. But, the Ono, Mahi, and marlin being offered tonight looked and smelled wonderful at the nearby tables and the other patrons all seemed to enjoy the dishes. There is also an Early Dinner Menu from 5-6 pm for $45. While we did not get it, had I been alone, this is what I would have gotten as it featured the honeycomb salad, choice of an entire (Ono or marlin), and a choice of dessert for a very reasonable price considering the listed prices for each dish. Ambiance is great and they have a decent selection of wine and mixed drinks if you want to compliment your meal. The staff is wonderful and very attentive throughout the meal. Parking was my only concern as the lot can get full quickly (25-30 spots) as guests are eating a number of the restaurants. But, there is additional parking nearby at the car wash and other location next door (call to ask/confirm). Definitely recommend reservations as it seems to be a very popular restaurant filling up moments after we arrived; we arrived early for our 600 pm reservation. Despite being completely full, I did not feel like it was noisy or that I needed to talk louder or repeat myself; and I seem to do that a lot more nowadays in general and even in quiet places so it must have been okay lol. I feel like the price was on point for seafood; not to mention a remote location like Kauai. The best value has to be the early dinner menu at $45, but two entrees and a starter salad for a little over a $100 for a nice evening out was a good price. Everything appeared to be fresh and I would consider returning to try their other dishes or their early dinner menu. read more

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