Sansei Restaurant Moving to Kukui Mall

Sansei. File image.

Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar, part of the DK Restaurants group, is moving to Kukui Mall.

Sansei will occupy most of the freestanding restaurant building on the north side of Kukui Mall on South Kīhei Road and intends to open for business in early to mid 2019.

The first Sansei opened in March 1996 at the Kapalua Resort, Maui, with additional locations opening in Honolulu, Kīhei, and Waikoloa in 2000, 2002, and 2008 respectively.

The Japanese word “sansei” refers to “third generation” and founder D.K. Kodama felt it was a fitting name for a restaurant inspired by Japanese tradition also serving contemporary interpretations of sushi and Asian cuisine. It is also a reference to D.K. Kodama’s background as a third generation Japanese American.

Kukui Mall. Courtesy photo.

D.K. Kodama said, “I am excited to build our next generation Sansei Restaurant in the new Kukui Mall in cooperation with all the new businesses and new Kīhei Luxury Theaters. Sansei will continue to offer the fresh, award-winning, and imaginative menu that our customers have come to expect and love.”

Kukui Mall was recently acquired by Houle Financial Corp and was approximately 30% leased upon acquisition. In addition to Sansei, Taco Bell and the recently announced Coldwell Banker Island Properties and Coldwell Banker Island Vacations tenants, Houle Financial expects to announce further leases shortly that will raise occupancy to approximately 90% or more – including the upcoming opening of the luxury Regency Theaters.

Chris Millen with Colliers International, is Kukui Mall’s exclusive leasing representative.  He said, “I have a very high level of on-going leasing activity that will absorb the majority of the Center’s vacancy in the very near future. We anticipate Kukui Mall to promptly return to its former status as one of South Maui’s premier retail destinations offering a high traffic, quality tenant mix of dining, retail, and entertainment uses.”