Hana Hou Hospitality: Rebuilding and striving to thrive one year after Lahaina fires

Hana Hou Hospitality restaurants will be closed on Aug. 8, 2024, the one-year anniversary of the Lahaina wildfire disaster that killed 102, destroyed thousands of structures and left thousands more homeless.

“Our beloved community faced an unimaginable tragedy with the Lahaina fires a year ago,” Hana Hou Hospitality said. “In remembrance of the lives lost, the homes destroyed, and the community affected, this closure allows our ʻohana and team members time for personal reflection and remembrance.”

“The Maui community has shown incredible resilience,” the statement says. “As residents and businesses continue to pivot, reinvent, evolve and grow, the grief for their beloved Lahaina town remains. Amidst these challenges, Hana Hou Hospitality restaurant group has been working tirelessly to survive and serve the community.”

Restaurants in the hospitality group have pivoted from serving the community free pizza slices in August 2023 to supporting their team members through fundraising campaigns.

The February reopening of Māla Ocean Tavern on Front Street was a hopeful sign for Lahaina, and the group as they continue to recover. Other members of the Hana Hou Hospitality group include Down The Hatch, Duckine, Breakwall Shave Ice Co. and Pizza Paradiso.

Māla Ocean Tavern, Duckine and Paradiso still stand, but Down The Hatch and Breakwall Shave Ice Co. were lost to the fire. There are plans to rebuild one day, and owners are actively looking at locations to relocate the businesses, according to a company email newsletter update.

Here are updates on the restaurant establishments:

Down The Hatch and Breakwall Shave Ice Co.
Award-winning businesses lost to the Lahaina fires, Down The Hatch and Breakwall Shave Ice Co. look forward to reopening on Maui’s West Side in the Kāʻanapali neighborhood in the future.

Pizza Paradiso and Pineapple Robot
Located in Honokowai, Pizza Paradiso has been a cornerstone for the community since the fires, the group says. Soon, it will be expanding the dining room and will be joined by new tiki bar Pineapple Robot, slated to open late August. 

Coco Deck Lahaina | Kitchen + Bar
Set to open in late August, Coco Deck Lahaina will replace Duckine at 1312 Front St. in Lahaina. Spared during the fires, this location will now offer a family-friendly, affordable dining experience led by Owners Executive Chef Alvin Savella, also known as “The Kitchen Assassin” and General Manager Robert Farrell, the group says. Duckine, which opened in October 2022 and was named 2023 Best New Restaurant and Most Innovative Menu in the Maui No Ka Oi ʻAi Pono Awards. It hopes to return in the distant future with innovative offerings.

Māla Ocean Tavern
Reopened on Feb. 1 at its original location at 1307 Front St., Māla Ocean Tavern was the first restaurant to welcome the community back to Front Street after the Lahaina fires. This year marks 20 years of Māla serving the Lahaina and Maui community. As part of its evolution, Māla is proud to introduce new General Manager Ingrid Lynch and Executive Chef Mitch Atwell.

• Ingrid Lynch: Previously a manager at Down The Hatch, Lynch brings her extensive experience from leading restaurants on island and in Las Vegas, Nev., back to the Hana Hou Hospitality team. After losing her home in the Lahaina fires, we are grateful that Lynch was able to stay on island, and step into this leadership role at Māla. 
• Chef Mitch Atwell: With over a decade of culinary experience in Vail, Colorado, and Las Vegas, Nevada, Atwell brought his talents to Hawaiʻi. Chef Mitch spent the last five years embracing Hawaiian cuisine in Kauaʻi, with his own private catering business and food truck. He joined the Māla team in May, and is bringing his expertise to the tiny tavern and award-winning kitchen. 

Hana Hou Hospitality is seeking dedicated, professional individuals to join its team. Email contact@hanahouhospitality to apply for positions.