The Maui News

Maui Brewing Co. in Kahana has been cleared to reopen by the state Department of Health after eradicating an infestation of pests that forced it to close earlier this month.

Health inspectors closed the restaurant July 10 after discovering a cockroach and rodent infestation during a complaint and routine inspection.

Maui Brewing Co. said at the time that it had been working with the landlords of the Kahana Gateway Center for the past few years as businesses in connected units closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and pests multiplied. Maui Brewing Co. recently purchased the separate unit east of its existing location and began construction on the facility, which had been shuttered for more than six years.

“We recently purchased the unit next door in order to build a brand-new Maui Brewing concept in the Center that is our birthplace, and completed a massive demolition, tearing everything out down to the studs,” CEO and co-founder Garrett Marrero said in a news release July 12. “This caused intrusions of pests into other areas of the center including our existing unit. We have been working round the clock with a goal, pending inspection, to reopen as soon as we’re confident that we have a sparkling clean and safe environment to serve our guests.”

An initial follow-up inspection on July 19 found that the restaurant had cleaned and removed grease and pest harborage but still had an active roach population, so it remained closed, the Health Department said in a news release Thursday.

During another inspection Wednesday, inspectors found the restaurant had eradicated the pest infestation and issued a green “pass” placard.

Maui Brewing Co., which is owned and operated by Amakua Holdings Inc., must continue with weekly pest control treatments and population monitoring by their professional pest control company for a month to ensure any pest activity is treated quickly, the Health Department said. Another inspection by the department will be conducted in the future to assess the restaurant’s efforts to remain in compliance with pest control and prevention.