Supporting Lahaina Restoration Foundation: Our Q4 Round-Up Beneficiary
At Mala Ocean Tavern, we believe that being part of the Maui community means more than simply serving great food. It means supporting the people, places, culture, and organizations that make this island special. That’s why we’re proud to participate in Hana Hou Hospitality’s Round-Up Program and especially excited to announce the program’s Q4 beneficiary: the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.
Through the Round-Up Program, guests at participating Hana Hou Hospitality restaurants can choose to round their check up to the nearest dollar. 100% of these contributions are donated to a local nonprofit organization. The program gives our guests a simple opportunity to make a meaningful contribution while enjoying a meal. For Q4, those contributions will support the Lahaina Restoration Foundation and its ongoing work to preserve and restore Lahaina’s historic and cultural heritage.
Founded in 1962, Lahaina Restoration Foundation is a Hawaiʻi nonprofit organization dedicated to being stewards and storytellers of Lahaina’s historic and cultural heritage. Over the years, Lahaina Restoration Foundation has restored and preserved more than a dozen landmarks and historic structures and has maintained collections of artifacts, photographs, manuscripts, maps, and other materials that help tell the story of Lahaina.
Lahaina has a remarkably rich history. It was once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom and later became an important center for whaling, trade, missionary activity, and plantation-era life. Historic places throughout town serve as reminders of the people and events that shaped Lahaina over generations. The work of preserving that history became even more important following the devastating August 8th, 2023 wildfire. Almost all of the historic sites administered by Lahaina Restoration Foundation were severely damaged or destroyed. Today, their recovery work includes efforts surrounding historic buildings, green spaces, artifacts, and cultural resources. The organization has developed a comprehensive Historic Building Restoration Master Plan outlining restoration and reconstruction efforts for eight historic properties, including the Old Lahaina Courthouse, Baldwin Home, Masters’ Reading Room, Old Lahaina Prison, Hale Aloha, Seamen’s Hospital, Plantation House, and Kindergarten Building.
Lahaina Restoration Foundation is also working to recover and care for surviving artifacts from the wildfire. Its collections represent many eras of Lahaina’s history, from Native Hawaiian artifacts to items connected to the missionary, whaling, and plantation periods. The organization continues to document, recover, preserve, and share these pieces of Lahaina’s story. This work is about more than buildings and objects. It is about preserving a sense of place and making sure future generations can continue to learn about and connect with Lahaina’s history.
MALA is proud to be one of the Hana Hou Hospitality restaurants participating in the Round-Up Program, alongside Coco Deck Lahaina, Pizza Paradiso, and Pineapple Robot. Each quarter, the program highlights a different Maui nonprofit, giving our guests the opportunity to support organizations making a difference across the island. When you dine with us during Q4, simply choose to round up your check. Those extra cents or dollars will go toward supporting the Lahaina Restoration Foundation and its continued efforts to preserve Lahaina’s historic and cultural heritage.A small addition to a restaurant bill may seem simple, but when guests come together, those contributions can add up to meaningful support.
For us at MALA, supporting Lahaina Restoration Foundation feels especially meaningful because of our connection to Lahaina. We are proud to call this community home and grateful to everyone who continues to support local businesses and organizations working toward Lahaina’s future.
Mahalo for dining with us, for supporting local, and for helping preserve the history and sense of place that makes Lahaina so special. Together, we can help keep Lahaina’s stories alive for generations to come.
