Where They Are Now: Lahaina Restaurants, Bars, Snack Shops and Food Trucks

We reached out to nearly 80 places for updates a year after the Maui fires.

August 8, 2024

Mari Taketa, Hailey Akau,

Image: James Nakamura

Dear Lahaina restaurants, bars, snack shops and food trucks,
We haven’t forgotten. Our hearts are full, remembering all of you who were part of the Lahaina of our memories.

Where are you now? More than wanting to know, we want to help. Our hope is that by trying to reach out to check up on on where you are and what you may have in the works, we can help reconnect you with your fans and maybe help you make new ones.

We reached out to nearly 80 of you—all but the national chains—and while our efforts turned up many dead ends, one year after the fires, there are signs of renewal. Lahaina’s Cool Cat Café and Koholā Brewery, the latter now a taproom and restaurant, reopened weeks ago in South Maui. Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina plans to reopen in Lahaina this fall. Many of you who were food trucks are now serving up dishes in different parts of Maui, some former brick-and-mortars have re-emerged as food trucks and at least one has relocated to O‘ahu.

Below is what we found. Asterisks denote places that in August 2023 were deemed destroyed.

*808 Grindz Café

843 Waine‘e St, @808grindzmaui

The Kona location on Hawai‘i Island remains open, there are plans to eventually rebuild the café in Kihei and a cookbook of favorite recipes is in the works, according to the eatery’s July 9 Instagram post.

808Antojitos

1221 HI-30, 808antojitos

We were unable to contact 808 Antojitos, but the eatery has been active on instagram, posting menu items and prices as recently as June. 808 Antojitos is also accepting orders on DoorDash.

*ABC Stores

The local chain lost three stores in Lahaina and says it has no updates.

Adriana’s Cocina

222 Papalaua St., @adrianascocinamaui

The business’s voicemail says they are accepting catering orders.

Alchemy | Maui. Kombucha Bar + Bistro

157 Kupuohi St.

Closed. We were unable to reach the business.

Aloha Braised (food truck)

58 Kupuohi St. @alohabraisedllc

Open. “We were the first ones to open back up and have been dealing with a lot of construction guys that keep up business,” owner Jay-Mar Pascua tells us. “Tourism has been slow, but the locals are very supportive.”

*Amigo’s Lahaina

658 Front St. #145, restaurantlahaina.com, @amigosmaui

While we were unable to reach the business via phone and email, Amigo’s Facebook page in January announced plans to reopen in Napili Plaza, but gave no set date. The Kihei location remains open.

*Badass Coffee

671 Front St., @badasscoffeeofhawaii

We were unable to contact the business. Other locations remain open.

*Bakery Lahaina

991 Limahana Pl., @bakerylahaina

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Baya Acai Bowls

741 Waine‘e St., @bayabowlsmaui

Its latest Instagram post says Baya Acai will reopen with a remodeled truck “in a month or two” after figuring out an exact spot in West Maui.

*Beach House Beer Co.

121 Dickenson St., @beachhousebeerco

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Belle Surf Café

640 Front St., @bellesurfcafe

While we were unable to contact the business, sister location Belle Surf Cafe and Lounge in Pā‘ia is still operating.

*Betty’s Beach Café

505 Front St. #120, @bettysbeachcafe

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

Bipolar Eats (food truck)

222 Papalaua St.

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Breakwall Shave Ice Co.

658 Front St. #104, @breakwallshaveice

Press release from Hana Hou Hospitality says Breakwall Shave Ice Co. and sister company Down the Hatch “look forward to reopening on Maui’s West Side in the Ka‘anapali neighborhood in the future.” Both, says owner Javier Barberi, are “still in rubble, and it will probably take 4–5 years before they begin to rebuild.”

Burger King

332 Keawe St., Building C

*Cabanas Cocktail & Wine Bar

@cabanaslahaina

The business was still in the works and never opened.

*Café Café Maui

129 Lahainaluna Road, @cafecafemaui

Jesse from Café Café Maui emails that the business “will not be reopening in the near future due to rent prices increasing 5–7x, low tourist traffic coupled with low local spending and a missing center-of-gravity where people can flock to for a delightful bite to eat.”

*Captain Jack’s Island Grill

672 Front St., @captainjacksmaui

Tiffany Quilty, manager of Cool Cat Maui and Captain Jack’s Island Grill, emails that “on July 1, we acquired The Beach House located at the Sands of Kahana Resort, 4299 Lower Honoapi‘ilani Highway, Lahaina (Kahana) HI. We will be renovating for a few months and hope to reopen by the winter season.”

*Cheeseburger in Paradise

811 Front St., @cheeseburgerinparadisemaui

While we were unable to contact the business, a post on its Facebook page in May said, “We are incredibly blessed to be opening Cheeseburger In Paradise in South Maui this fall.” There have been no other updates.

*Choice Health Bar Lahaina

1087 Limahana Place, @choicehealthbar

While we were unable to contact the business, two other Choice Health Bar locations are operating in Pā‘ia Town and Ka‘anapali Beach at Whalers Village. The owners also have three eateries in Kihei, and there is an unofficial tentative reopening in Wailea.

*Cool Cat Café

658 Front St. #160, @coolcatcafe_maui

Reopened at 1819 S. Kihei Road in Kihei in June with its menu of famous burgers intact.

*Da-Soriano Grindz (food truck)

263 Lahainaluna Road, @dasorianogrindz

Now at 70 Lono Ave. in Kahului. A July 15 Instagram post lists the updated hours.

Denny’s

1221 HI-30

*Dirty Monkey

844 Front St., @dirtymonkeymaui

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Down the Hatch Maui

658 Front St., #102, @dthmaui

Press release from Hana Hou Hospitality says Down the Hatch and sister company Breakwall Shave Ice Co. “look forward to reopening on Maui’s West Side in the Ka‘anapali neighborhood in the future.” Both, says owner Javier Barberi, are “still in rubble, and it will probably take 4–5 years before they begin to rebuild.”

*Drift Coffee

180 Dickenson St., #115, @driftcoffeelahaina

Closed. Its Instagram reads, “Forever remembered. Perished in the Maui fires.”

Duckine

1312 Front St., @duckine, @cocodecklahaina

Rebranding as Coco Deck Lahaina Kitchen + Bar, a “local | American | seafood | Mexican” restaurant aiming for August opening, according to a press release from Hana Hou Hospitality group. Former Duckine chef Alvin Savilla will helm the new kitchen.

Eating Local

840 Waine‘e St., @eatingglocal

We were unable to contact the business.

*Feast at Lele

505 Front St. #120, @feastatlele

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Fleetwood’s on Front Street

744 Front St., @fleetwoodsonfrontst

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Hawai‘i Gelato

700 Front St., @hawaiigelato

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

Honu Oceanside

1295 Front St., honumaui.com, @honuoceanside

“Honu is still in the process of fixing our building and replacing equipment,” according to Honu’s website. “We hope to reopen late Summer/early Fall of 2024.” Its latest Instagram post announced the hiring of a mixologist.

Huong Nam

658 Front St. #145B

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Indian Grill N Curry

658 Front St. #140, @indiangrillncurry

”We are open,” its Instagram reads, at 1881 S. Kihei Road.

Jersey Mike’s Subs

1221 HI-30 Suite B1

Joy’s Onolicious Grindz (food truck)

222 Papalaua St., @joys.onolicious.grindz

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

Kamala’s Kitchen (food truck)

814 Olowalu Village Road, @kamalaskitchen_maui

Open and serving up pizzas.

*Keiki Bowls Café

117 Prison St., @keikibowls

Closed.

Kihei Caffe Lahaina

305 Keawe St., @kiheicaffe

Open. Kihei Caffe has two additional locations in Kihei and the Maui Coast Hotel.

*Kimo’s Maui

845 Front St. A, @kimosmaui

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Koholā Brewery

910 HI-30, #55, koholabrewery.com, @koholabrewery

Reopened in Wailea at 112 Wailea Ike Dr. in July as a taproom and restaurant headed by noted Maui chef Isaac Bancaco. Koholā’s beers are still being brewed at Kona Brewing Hawai‘i on Big Island.

*L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

170 Papalaua St., @llhawaiianbbq

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

3350 Lower Honoapi‘ilani Road, @llhawaiianbbq

Open.

*Lahaina Fish Co.

831 Front St., @lahainafishco_maui

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Lahaina Grill

127 Lahainaluna Road, @lahainagrill

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Lahaina Sports Bar

843 Waine‘e St., @qslahainasportsbar

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

Lahaina Sushi Ko

844 Front St. #106, @lahaina_sushi_ko

Reopened and serving sushi as a food truck at 24 Kiopa‘a St. in Makawao by Longs Drugs.

*Las Islitas Tacos Y Mariscos (food truck)

727 Waine‘e St., @tacosymariscoslasilitas

Reopened in two locations—520 Keolani Pl. in Kahului and 56 Kupuohi St. in Lahaina. The Instagram page has updated hours and phone numbers.

Linda’s Kitchen

961 Limahana Pl., lindaskitchenmex.com, @lindaskitchenlahaina

Reopened in Wailuku at 1960 Main St. The website has updated menu, hours and phone number for to-go orders.

Māla Ocean Tavern

1307 Front St., malatavern.com, @malatavern

Survived the fires and reopened at the same location in February, the first Front Street eatery to revive. Part of the Hana Hou Hospitality group, whose Gofundme is still accepting donations.

Maui Breakfast (food truck)

150 Kai Hele Ku St., @mauibreakfast

Open for business at the same address.

*Maui Island Coffee

658 Front St.

The business is “in recovery and our website is in construction and will be selling Kona coffee online soon,” Maui Island Coffee’s Tahar Baccar emails.

Merienda Maui (food truck)

1221 HI-30, meriendamaui.com, @merienda.maui

The food truck has relocated to O‘ahu at 98-1005 Moanalua Rd., in the Pearlridge parking lot by Sears. The website has the menu and updates.

Moku Roots

335 Keawe St.#211, mokuroots.com, @mokuroots

The plant-based eatery has moved to Kula and is doing private chef and catering events. An Instagram post from January says the business was planning to move to the Old Chart House building pre-fire and is waiting for the rebuilding process to begin.

*Nagasako Okazu-Ya & Deli

845 Waine‘e St. #213, @nagasako.okazuya

Closed after 120 years.

No.1 Chinese & BBQ IV Inc.

840 Waine‘e St.

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Noodle Bar Lahaina Vietnamese Food

170 Papalaua St.

The person who answered the phone on July 22 told us the business has been looking for a new space in Lahaina, but reopening is uncertain and currently out of their price range.

Old Lahaina Lū‘au

1251 Front St., oldlahainaluau.com, @oldlahainaluau

Spared by the fires, the attraction reopened in March.

*Pacific‘o on the Beach

505 Front St., #114, @pacificomaui

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Pā‘ia Fish Market Front Street Restaurant

632 Front St., paiafishmarket.com

Closed. The website, which lists five other locations on Maui and O‘ahu, no longer lists one in Lahaina.

Panda Express

312 Keawe St.

*Papa‘aina at the Pioneer Inn

658 Dickenson St., @papaainamaui

Closed.

*Penne Pasta Café

180 Dickenson St. #113, pennepastacafe.net, @pennepastacafe

Now operating as a food truck and doing pop-up events around Maui. The website has the menu, online ordering and contact information.

Pizza Hut

127 Hinau St.

*Prison Street Pizza

133 Prison St., @prisonstreetpizza

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina

878 Front St., @salepepemaui

Reopening this fall at Emerald Plaza in Lahaina.

Shaya Fusion Cuisine

961 Limahana Place, @shayafusioncuisine

Reopened as a food truck in November out of Wailuku Food Truck Park at 1960 Main St.

*Smash Maui

742 Waine‘e St., @smash_maui

Coming back as a food truck, though with no confirmed dates or locations yet.

*Smokehouse BBQ

930 Waine‘e St.

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

Sparky’s Food Co. Lahaina Food Truck

1221 HI-30, sparkysfoodco.com, @sparkysfoodco

Open at Lahaina Cannery Mall, in Kahului and soon, in Kihei.

Star Noodle

1285 Front St., @star.noodle

Reopened with a traditional blessing earlier in August.

Subway

910 HI-30, #16

*Sunrise Café

693 Front St. A

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

Taco Bell

127 A Hinau St.

*TaquerEata

741 Waine‘e St., @taquereata

Reopened in March as a food trailer at new location on Honoapi‘ilani Highway at Napilihau Street.

Teddy’s Bigger Burgers

335 Keawe St., #221–222, @teddysbiggerburgerslahaina

Open since December and slinging burgers.

Teppanyaki-2-Go

741 Waine‘e St., @teppanyaki_2_go

Closed, but its Facebook and Instagram have posts selling hats and sauces.

*Thai Chef Restaurant Maui

878 Front St. A-12, @thaichefmaui

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Thai Taste 65

742 Waine‘e St.

Closed. We were unable to contact the business.

*Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar & Store

900 Front St., B2

*Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice

790 Front St., @ululanishawaiianshaveice

No plans to return to Lahaina soon. “We have had numerous opportunities to open in Resort Hotels in Ka‘anapali and Kapalua, as well as at the Cannery Mall … all on the West side of Maui and also an opportunity to open in Wailea,” co-founder and CEO David Yamashiro emails. “We turned those down due to ongoing staffing challenges and uncertainties on what traffic flow would be like. As of now, there are really no buildings even remotely close to being permitted and built in Lahaina.”

*VigiLatte Artisan Coffee

844 Front St., @vigilattemaui

“Like many other small businesses, it’s been a nightmare to get started again,” owner Nathon Holder tells us. He plans to hold pop-up events to boost the business’s Gofundme and reconnect with customers. A July 8 update on its Gofundme page says VigiLatte hopes to reopen as a mobile coffee shop.