The Kula Lodge & Restaurant was still smoldering one day after a fire gutted the restaurant of the iconic Upcountry venue on Monday. The Maui News/Andy Gross

For Stephanie Mallek and her family, the fire that gutted her family’s restaurant in Kula on Monday was a cruel case of deja vu.

Malleck is the operations manager at Kula Lodge & Restaurant, an Upcountry icon famous to both locals and tourists for its food, ambiance and expansive views.

The owners allowed Kula Strong to use the property as a staging ground and hub for water and food distribution in the aftermath of the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires. The generosity and aloha of the Kula Lodge & Restaurant staff was appreciated by many residents.

“It was one of the toughest times in my life but we got through it,” Mallek said. “I can’t believe that in such a short time later we have to go through it again.”

According to Maui Fire, a renter in one of the rooms at the lodge reported seeing flames coming from the Kula Lodge & Restaurant at 15200 Haleakala Highway at about 3:19 a.m. Monday.

An evacuation of the property was conducted, and firefighters were able to gain control of the fire around 5:30 a.m.

Maui fire answered a call Monday from a guest at the lodge and arrived at approximately 3:30 a.m. to find the restaurant engulfed in flames.

Several engines and firefighters remained on the scene Monday. Malleck said that there was no damage estimate yet, but she said it would likely be in the millions.

“We still don’t know the cause of the fire as it’s still not safe to inspect,” she said.

She said the restaurant was a total loss and added that the family plans to rebuild.

The Kula Marketplace was not affected by the fire at the Kula Lodge & Restaurant on Monday and the marketplace remains open. The business owners are hoping the public will continue to support the store as they work to keep staff employed during a difficult time. The Maui News/Andy Gross

She said the Kula Marketplace, which is just a little bit up the road from the lodge, is open daily from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., and she encouraged people to support sales at the store to keep staff on the job.

“We are working on getting a food trailer on (Kula Marketplace) property to start serving meals again and to maintain employment for some staff,” Mallek said.

The structure that housed the lodge and restaurant was still smoldering early Tuesday with a Maui Fire Department truck remaining on site.

Mallek said that the five lodges on the premises were not damaged, but there is currently no power or water to the units and she does not know when utilities might be restored.

Mallek said the business would make an announcement when the lodges will reopen. She added that any guests whose stays were interrupted by the blaze would receive a full refund.

The Kula Lodge & Restaurant and Kula Marketplace was purchased by veteran restaurateur Simon Vojdani, Mallek’s father, in November 2022 for $11 million. The Kula Lodge & Restaurant has five dwellings for rent. The lodge was previously owned by the late Fred Romanchak since 1984.