Rooted in Lahaina: Commitment to Community

We are deeply honored to partner with Lahaina Community Land Trust (LCLT) through their Kaluaʻehu program, a community-powered initiative created to protect ʻaina and keep Lahaina ʻohana rooted for generations. LCLT is addressing one of the most urgent challenges facing our town by securing land, preventing foreclosure, and supporting families through innovative and collaborative rebuilding efforts.

The Kaluaʻehu program launched on August 7, 2025, and in under four months has grown into a collective of 28 local business partners, each contributing in a way that fits their business while supporting a shared mission. As of the close of 2025, the program has already surpassed $50,000 raised, with total contributions expected to approach $100,000 once all year-end commitments are finalized. This is the power of kakou, where every effort, big or small, contributes to the greater whole.

In just one year, LCLT has made remarkable progress with16 pieces of ʻāina secured forever, allowing for up to 44 future housing units under county zoning. Eight families are currently rebuilding through the Keep Lahaina Home Insurance Gap Program, with three families preparing to move home in early spring thanks to the volunteer efforts of Mennonite Disaster Service. Three ʻohana have already been saved from foreclosure, and today, 28 local businesses, including the Hana Hou Hospitality ʻohana, stand in partnership with LCLT.

At Mala Ocean Tavern and across all Hana Hou Hospitality properties, guests are invited to participate through checkout donations, dish-for-a-cause initiatives, and other Kaluaʻehu efforts. Each meal becomes an opportunity to give back, helping create a truly circular economy rooted in aloha ʻaina. This is what regenerative tourism looks like to us, community-first, locally grounded, and built with intention.

To the Lahaina Community Land Trust team, our fellow Kaluaʻehu partners, and every guest who has chosen to give back with us, we offer our deepest mahalo. Your belief in this mission is helping families come home and ensuring Lahaina remains a place where community thrives for generations to come.

At Hana Hou Hospitality, community is most important. Our restaurants exist because Lahaina exists, and our responsibility goes far beyond hospitality. Mahalo nui loa for supporting our restaurants and in turn supporting our the families in our community.

Mala Ocean Tavern Named One of OpenTable’s Top 100 Brunch Restaurants in America

We’re incredibly grateful to share that Mala Ocean Tavern has been recognized on OpenTable’s 2025 Top 100 Brunch Restaurants list, a nationwide collection celebrating the most loved brunch destinations across the country. This honor is based on millions of real diner reviews and reservation trends, making it especially meaningful because it comes directly from guests like you.

Being included among the top 100 brunch spots in the entire United States is something we do not take lightly. It reflects the care our kitchen team puts into every plate, the warmth our front-of-house staff brings to each table, and the community that continues to choose Mala for birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, and slow mornings that turn into lasting memories.

We want to extend a heartfelt mahalo to everyone who has joined us for brunch, shared kind words online, recommended us to friends, and made Mala part of their routine when they’re in Lahaina. Your support, especially over the past few years, has meant more to us than we can ever express.

This recognition only motivates us to keep raising the bar with thoughtful seasonal dishes, handcrafted cocktails, and the genuine hospitality that has defined Mala for over two decades. Whether you’re a longtime local or visiting Maui for the first time, we look forward to welcoming you back for many more mornings around our tables.

From all of us at Mala Ocean Tavern, thank you for helping us become one of the best brunch destinations in the country.

Neon Dreams: Futuristic New Year’s Eve Celebration

December 31, 2025 • Māla Ocean Tavern
$25 Pre-Sale | $35 at the Door | 21+

Step into the future this New Year’s Eve at Māla Ocean Tavern’s Neon Dreams, an electric night where luminous color, cutting-edge style, and high-energy celebration collide. The oceanfront transforms into a glowing neon playground filled with lights, futuristic décor, metallic accents, and vibrant vibe designed to transport you into 2026 in electrifying style.

Move with the crowd as DJ Ron brings a high-voltage soundtrack all night long, strike a pose in the photobooth, enjoy specialty cocktails from Ocean Vodka, and lift your glass for a sparkling champagne toast at midnight. Dress to impress in metallics, glow accessories, and futuristic silhouettes that light up the night.

Whether you’re here to dance, celebrate, or step into a world of neon fantasy, this will be an unforgettable countdown along the Maui shoreline.

MALA OCEAN TAVERN FEATURED in Coast to Coast Newspaper’s Fine Dining Guide

For us, great service is personal. It goes beyond taking an order or delivering a dish. It is about genuine connection, warmth, and making every guest feel seen and cared for. When someone dines with us, we want them to feel like they belong here. We want the evening to unfold naturally, with thoughtful recommendations, relaxed conversation, and a sense of ease that feels effortless.

That spirit is at the heart of what we do at Mala Ocean Tavern, and it is part of what led to our recent feature in the Coast to Coast Newspaper Fine Dining Guide for Maui, Waikīkī, and Honolulu for November 2025. The guide described Mala as “a gem of Lahaina” and highlighted the meaning behind continuing to serve our community after the devastating wildfires. That recognition feels especially meaningful because this restaurant has always been more than a place to eat. It is history, gathering, and connection by the ocean.

The review also celebrated some of the dishes our guests return for again and again. The writers called our Ahi Bruschetta one of the best they have tasted in Hawaiʻi and described the Taro Root Veggie Burger as surprisingly unforgettable. Each dish on our menu is crafted with intention using fresh island ingredients and flavors that reflect the spirit of Hawaiʻi. While we love hearing praise, what truly matters is knowing guests experience the care behind every bite.

What resonated most in the feature was how they described the feeling of dining here. The ocean only steps away. A relaxed elegance that never feels formal or stiff. A space where time slows just enough to savor a cocktail, a sunset, or a conversation you have been waiting to have.

We are honored by the recognition and grateful for the guests, neighbors, and returning visitors who fill our dining room with energy and aloha every day. Without you, none of this is possible.

If it has been a while since your last visit, consider this your invitation. The view is waiting. The kitchen is ready. Your table is here.

Shop Mala This Black Friday Weekend!

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

The holidays are almost here, and Mala Ocean Tavern is bringing a little extra aloha to your gift shopping this year. From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, enjoy exclusive savings and a special gift when you shop our online store!

Spend $75 or more and receive $5 off your order plus a FREE Mala gift valued at $25, our way of saying mahalo for supporting local. Whether you’re picking up a cozy Mala tee, a gift card for your favorite foodie, or something special for yourself, now’s the perfect time to treat someone you love (and maybe yourself, too 😉).

✨ Use promo code: BLKFRI2025 at checkout
🛍️ Offer valid Black Friday through Cyber Monday
🎁 Free gift available while supplies last

Shop small. Support local. Share the Māla spirit this season.