Update/Open: DOH issues red placard to Maui L&L on Dairy Road for a cockroach infestation

Update: May 23, 2025

The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Maui Food Safety Branch allowed a Maui location of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue to reopen, issuing a green “pass” placard during a follow-up inspection on May 23, 2025. The establishment, operated by Maui L & L Food Inc., is located at 270 Dairy Road, Unit #170, Kahului, within the Maui Marketplace Food Court.

The establishment has eliminated all cockroach activity and repaired all harborage spaces since the initial routine inspection conducted on May 12, 2025. The DOH is allowing the restaurant to reopen and resume operations, as the imminent health hazard has been eliminated and the establishment has shown progress by implementing pest control and prevention protocols. The restaurant has worked with its professional pest control company to complete multiple treatments and implement a pest monitoring program to help prevent future infestations.

The DOH is requiring the establishment to continue:

• Working with its pest control company to conduct weekly pest control treatments and monitoring for the next three weeks, and

• Ensuring the identified person in charge continues to demonstrate control over procedures implemented for pest control and prevention.

The DOH Food Safety Branch protects and promotes the health of Hawai‘i residents and visitors through education of food industry workers and regulation of food establishments statewide. The branch conducts routine health inspections of food establishments where food products are prepared, manufactured, distributed, or sold.

The branch also investigates sources of foodborne illnesses and potential adulteration and is responsible for mitigating the effects of these incidents to prevent future occurrences. DOH food safety specialists strive to work with business owners, food service workers, and the food industry to ensure safe food preparation and employee hygiene practices.

To obtain restaurant inspection reports for Maui, call the Maui Food Safety Branch at 808-984-8230. For more information on the department’s placarding program, visit http://health.hawaii.gov/san.

Previous post:

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health, Maui Food Safety Branch issued a red “closed” placard and immediately closed a Maui location of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue owned and operated by Maui L & L Food Inc. The restaurant is in the Maui Marketplace Food Court at 270 Dairy Road, Unit 170, in Kahului. The red placard was issued for a cockroach infestation during a routine follow-up inspection conducted on May 14, 2025.

A routine inspection was conducted on May 12, 2025, and a yellow “conditional” placard was posted due to the presence of cockroaches. The establishment was instructed to have professional pest control treatment completed before the follow-up inspection.

A greater number of cockroaches were observed during the follow-up inspection including roaches that were laying egg cases within the walk-in refrigerator and freezer door seals. It was determined that it was an active, breeding roach population, which posed an imminent health hazard and the establishment was shut down.

The establishment must meet the following requirements prior to DOH scheduling a follow-up inspection:

• Contact a professional pest control company and establish a pest treatment and monitoring plan to fully eradicate the active cockroach population;
• Seal and repair all cracks and crevices along the kitchen floor and walls; and,
• Prepare procedures that demonstrate control over pest prevention and control.

The establishment is required to provide an update and timeline for completion of the listed requirements by May 16, 2025.

The DOH Food Safety Branch protects and promotes the health of Hawai‘i residents and visitors through education of food industry workers and regulation of food establishments statewide. The branch conducts routine health inspections of food establishments where food products are prepared, manufactured, distributed or sold.

The branch also investigates sources of foodborne illnesses and potential adulteration. It is also responsible for mitigating the effects of these incidents to prevent any future occurrences. The DOH food safety specialists strive to work with business owners, food service workers and the food industry to ensure safe food preparation and employee hygiene practices.

For more information on the department’s placarding program go to http://health.hawaii.gov/san/. For more information about current establishment inspections, click here.