The Department of Transportation’s Highways Division recognized Hula Grill for its commitment to the Adopt-A-Highway public service program – carrying out dozens of clean-ups in West Maui since 2008.

The Kāʻanapali restaurant was awarded the Nō Ka ʻOi Highway Hui Award from the State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Transportation, Highways Division – Maui District (HWY-M). The quarterly award recognizes and celebrates groups that have continually met and/or exceeded the requirements of the Adopt-A-Highway program.

The Hula Grill restaurant in Kāʻanapali might be most well-known for its popular beachfront location and Hula Pie dessert, but the Department of Transportation’s Highways Division also knows it as the “Hula Grill ʻOhana” – a community-minded employee team that has diligently cleaned up litter along Honoapiʻilani Highway for well over a decade.

“During some of their clean-ups, the Hula Grill ʻOhana picked up enough litter to fill as many as 90 trash bags,” said Ty Fukuroku, program manager, Environmental Management, HWY-M. “If not for their hard work and dedication, all that trash would have remained in the environment, where it can harm our island’s ecosystems. We greatly appreciate their contributions to the community.”

Managed and administered by HWY-M, Adopt-A-Highway is a public service program that partners with community organizations and businesses to protect water quality and keep pollutants from entering Maui’s streams and ocean environment. Participants agree to adopt a two-mile portion of a state highway for a minimum of two years, pick up litter on their section of the highway at least four times per year, and undergo safety training before each cleanup event.

Hula Grill is part of TS Restaurants, which also includes other popular eateries in the islands including Duke’s, Kimo’s and Leilani’s on the Beach. Orrin Cross, general manager of Hula Grill, said their sister restaurants often participate in their highway clean-up activities to stay involved and give back to the community.