A large crowd gathers at the new Kalei’s restaurant, which is set to open at the Lahaina Cannery Mall on June 18. Photo courtesy Kalei’s Maui

Kalei’s Maui restaurant co-owner Fran Heath recalls she and her husband Aaron outfitting their first food truck at their Dickenson Street residence in Lahaina and driving it to a space across from Costco in 2015.

“We would prepare food every day and drive the food truck with a hope and a prayer across the Lahaina Pali to Kahului,” she said.

Apparently, their prayers have been answered, as the demand for their island-flavored food is growing. With restaurants at the Pukalani Terrace Center and Maui Lani Shopping 
Center in Wailuku, the Heaths are opening their third restaurant, Kalei’s Lahaina, on June 18 at the Lahaina Cannery Mall in the space formerly occupied by the Denny’s restaurant.

Heath said Kalei’s is a hybrid, offering a cafe-style experience with a focus on dining.

Heath added that she and her husband are grateful to be returning to Lahaina with a renewed commitment to serving and uplifting the community after the 2023 wildfire that killed 102 people including her sister Sharlene Rabang.

“It’s very emotional,” Heath said. “We had that need to come back to Lahaina and feed our community and heal.”

Kumu hula Victoria Holt Takamine (center) poses for a photo with Kalei’s co-owners Aaron and Fran Heath after Takamine blessed their new restaurant. Photo courtesy Kalei’s Maui

She said a space in the restaurant is dedicated to the people who lost so much to the wildfire. The Heaths are also hiring employees.

“With the excitement already building, we know our Lahaina ʻohana will help us find the right team to share Kalei’s flavors and aloha on the west side,” she said. “Mahalo for your kōkua in helping us spread the word and bring local dining back to life in Lahaina.”

Kalei’a at Lahaina Cannery Mall will be hosting a hiring event from 3-7 p.m. Tuesday. Walk-ins are welcome.

The event is focused on filling both kitchen and front-of-house positions, including

back of house positions, line cooks, prep cooks, utility/dishwashers, house manager,

assistant front house manager, cashiers and runners.

For more, go to kaleismaui.com or email fran@kaleismaui.com or jen@kaleismaui.com.