Maui Food And Dining

After five years away due to the pandemic and Maui wildfires, Montessori School of Maui is thrilled to announce the return of their tuition assistance fundraiser, Taste of Upcountry. This celebration of the bounty of Upcountry Maui will take place Saturday, Sept. 14, 6-10 p.m. The outdoor event, held under a glowing tent on the central lawn at the heart of the school’s Makawao campus, supports Montessori School of Maui’s Tuition Assistance Initiatives in an effort to make a Montessori Education more accessible, welcoming, and inclusive for our community.

With the return of the Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival to Kā‘anapali, Maui for its 14th annual festival coming this October, organizers reflected on last year and how they intend to support the island’s economic recovery in the aftermath of the 2023 wildfires.

The Shops at Wailea is months away from a new culinary addition. The debut of Aurum Maui, the latest venture from Destination Hospitality Group, offers a fusion of New American cuisine and local ingredients.

The Kukui Mall parking lot was overflowing recently, spilling onto busy traffic on South Kīhei Road on a sultry summer night. A closer look revealed the reason: patrons crowding into Cool Cat Cafe, relocated last month to South Maui after wildfire destroyed its longtime Wharf Cinema Center location, across from the famed Banyan Tree in historic Lahaina town.

Koholā Brewery is set for a grand opening July 21 as a taproom and restaurant at the Wailea Village shopping center. This marks the second comeback for the independent craft beer brewery founded in Lahaina in 2014.

Kō Restaurant at Fairmont Kea Lani is introducing Taste of Kō[racha], a one-night culinary event highlighting the innovative multicultural cuisine of Kō elevated with Kōracha, the venue’s new, locally crafted hot sauce created in collaboration with HiSpice. 

The 14th annual Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival (HFWF) announced on Tuesday a sweepstakes for one lucky winner, with a grand prize valued at over $10,000. The deadline to enter for a chance to win is July 23.

Jamba Hawaiʻi has partnered with Tahiti Kemper and the Kemper ‘Ohana for their latest campaign, “#FillYourCup.”

Montage Kapalua Bay has announced two key culinary appointments: Behdad Ghofrani as director of food & beverage, and Justin Purpura as executive chef.

HTA is providing $48,000 in scholarships to support the professional development of 32 Hawai‘i chefs through this specialized career pathway program.

Fellow Maui chefs are banding together for “Maui Chefs Cook for a Cause,” a fundraiser on Sunday, July 21, from 5 to 8 p.m. at FOND, Chef Jojo Vasquez’s neighborhood eatery in the Nāpili Shopping Center. All proceeds from the event will go towards the substantial medical expenses facing Chef Riko Bartolome and his ‘ohana.

Hula Grill Kāʻanapali has named Amy Hānaialiʻi Gilliom as the recipient of its annual E Ola Mau Ka Mele award for her efforts to preserve and perpetuate Hawaiian culture through song.

The Culinary Institute of the Pacific (CIP) at Kapi‘olani Community College unveiled details of their groundbreaking collaboration with the renowned Culinary Institute of America (CIA), the world’s premier culinary college, in a formal press conference co-hosted by the Hawai‘i Ag & Culinary Alliance that welcomed CIA leadership to the Diamond Head campus.

Tajima Ramen, a Japanese cuisine restaurant in San Diego and Tijuana, announced the grand opening of its first location in Hawaiʻi on the island of Maui. The new restaurant, located in the Kukui Mall opened its doors to the public on June 10. Restaurant owner, Sam Morikizono and his talented staff, have built a reputation for delivering high-quality handmade dishes, with a commitment to the purity of taste and style.

Cool Cat Cafe, a beloved local restaurant that was destroyed in the Lahaina fires, announced its grand reopening at a new location in South Maui. The grand reopening will take place on June 15, 2024, at Kukui Mall, located at 1819 S. Kīhei Road. The restaurant will be open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, a leader in the growing popularity of Hawaiian-style cuisine, has announced its latest restaurant opening in Annandale, Virginia.

A new restaurant – Duke’s Kona – will debut at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa on the Big Island in late 2025. T S Restaurants announced plans for the restaurant on Monday; it will mark the Maui-based company’s first venture on the Big Island and its ninth location in Hawai‘i.

Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, situated on 23 oceanfront acres at iconic Pu‘u Keka‘a (Black Rock), appointed Chef Charles Andres executive chef for the property. Chef Andres, who was raised in Lahaina on Maui, oversees the overall culinary direction of the resort’s multiple dining establishments, including The Sandbar, Cliff Dive Grill, Mai Tai Bar, Teppan-yaki Dan, Coral Reef, Black Rock Shave Ice, and in-room dining, as well as the property’s catering functions and special events.

The Montage Kapalua Bay is unveiling a special Father’s Day menu at its restaurant, The Hideaway, from June 14 to June 16 from 5 to 10 p.m.

Noodles & Rice by Nutcharee is now open at Azeka Shopping Center. Building on the success of their sister restaurant, Nutcharee’s Authentic Thai Food, the new restaurant offers diners a unique take on two staples of Asian cuisine: noodles & rice.