Ask the Mayor: Who is Responsible for Restaurant Cleanliness?

Food Safety. File photo.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his office staff.

Good morning Mr. Mayor,

Q: I am curious as to who is responsible for the cleanliness of restaurants in Maui County. Would it be the State or the County Health Departments? I’m mainly talking about those that have the green pass certificates displayed.

The reason I’m asking is ever since we have lived here, we have enjoyed the many different restaurants on the island. The problem is if you need to use the restroom, some are so gross, you wouldn’t want to use them unless you have a steam cleaner strapped to your back. Because of this situation, my wife and I have quit going to some, even though we like the food. Just curious!

A: You can contact the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health, Maui District Health Office. The DOH’s Sanitation Branch, Environmental Health Program provides direct services in sanitation, vector control and food safety education.

Services include food permits and inspections, milk safety, public swimming pools, tattoo and mortuary inspections, rodent and mosquito consultations and monitoring of nuisance vectors and new vector-borne diseases.

To reach the Maui office of the Food Sanitation program, call 984-8230.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email at AsktheMayor@mauicounty.gov, by phone at 270-7855 or by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.