Mala Ocean Tavern Blog
VOTE for the best on maui
It’s that time of year again on Maui! Voting has started for the Maui No Ka Oi Magazine ‘Aipono Awards! The restaurant award voting will go through January 31st, 2023. Support local businesses and vote for your favorites. We hope MALA is your favorite, but most importantly, we want you to vote! Either way, voting will help a local business. Vote now and show some love for your favorite Maui restaurants.
It’s that time of year again on Maui! Voting has started for the Maui No Ka Oi Magazine ‘Aipono Awards! The restaurant award voting will go through January 31st, 2023. Support local businesses and vote for your favorites. We hope MALA is your favorite, but most importantly, we want you to vote! Either way, voting will help a local business. Vote now and show some love for your favorite Maui restaurants.
The Mala Ocean Tavern Team is proud of the awards that we won in 2022 and we have been working hard to continue to maintain our standards and excellence in serving our community and guests to the beautiful island of Maui. We hope for your support.
2022 - Maui No Ka Oi Magazine ‘Aipono Awards
Best Oceanfront Dining - Gold
Best Business Lunch - Gold
Most Maui-est - Silver
Best Late Night Dining - Silver
Best Service - Silver
Best Wine List - Silver
Our sister restaurants hope for your support too, check them out, Down The Hatch, Breakwall Shave Ice Co. and Duckine! It only takes a few minutes to vote for all of your favorite local restaurants on Maui. There are lots of categories and we’re vying for a few. See the categories that we’re going for on the images below & link straight to the voting. Mahalo nui loa for your continued encouragement and support, we wouldn’t be here without y’all!
Mala Ocean Tavern is excited to announce the appointment of Executive Chef Kalei Ducheneau and BOH ADMIN Kate Ducheneau
With predecessor, local Chef Alvin Savella leaving Mala Ocean Tavern to start new sister restaurant Duckine, the MALA owners were able to turn to Sous Chef Kalei Ducheneau and Back of House Administrator Kate Ducheneau to maintain the quality and innovation that MALA has been known for.
With predecessor, local Chef Alvin Savella leaving Mala Ocean Tavern to start new sister restaurant Duckine, the MALA owners were able to turn to Sous Chef Kalei Ducheneau and Back of House Administrator Kate Ducheneau to maintain the quality and innovation that MALA has been known for.
As the world continues to surprise us, MALA was able to find this husband and wife team to take one of Maui’s staple restaurants and kitchen to the next level. Now Executive Chef Kalei Ducheneau is accompanied by his wife and teammate Kate Ducheneau, creating a top notch team to maintain the qualities and standards of the classic oceanfront eatery in Lahaina.
Executive Chef Kalei Ducheneau is Maui grown! Born in Wailuku, he attended Lahainaluna High School. At the early age of 16, Kalei was driven to work in the kitchen, pursuing culinary Chef as his career.
Ducheneau's training sparked at home. He grew up with his Grandfather Solomon Pali, a cook at the Lahaina Broiler, and his mother, Lala Ducheneau cooking traditional Hawaiian dishes in their home. He started young, appreciating the local style and flavors in island cooking. Chef Kalei’s father, Michael Ducheneau, is trained in classical French cooking, and notes cooking with his father sparked a deeper appreciation for the finesse needed for beautiful execution of each dish.
With this combination of influences, Chef Kalei's passion for food and cooking spawned. Chef Kalei’s experience on the line comes from a host of popular Maui restaurants like Lahaina Fish Co, Pineapple Grill, Merriman's Kapalua, The Westin Maui, and most recently as Sous Chef to Chef Alvin Savella at Mala Ocean Tavern. Ducheaneau, a husband, and father of two small children (Roux, 4, and Suede, 5), is finding his stride to cultivate his own style. He is driven by love of the industry and simply… good food. Chef Kalei is inspired by the different cultures and cuisine on Maui, along with the influence of family to create a fusion of flavors that will surprise and delight the palate.
Originally from Cocoa Beach, Florida, Kate Ducheneau moved to Maui with her brothers in 2015, met Kalei shortly there-after, they were married and started their family. Kate’s passion for the food mirrors her husbands. She came to the MALA Ohana last year helping with kitchen admin. When her partner moved into the role of Executive Chef, wife Kate was able to grow her role as well, becoming MALA Back of House Administrator, and assisting with the back of house operations.
With a partner and teammate focused on kitchen admin, Chef Kalei has been able to soar with creativity and maintain a balanced, efficient kitchen. Kate is a strong inspiration for Chef Kalei, being the first to try some of his creations or motivating him to continue to learn and grow. MALA has a dream team in the duo. Many ask Chef Kalei if his wife cooks as well, and he says, “She can cook, we both cook, but she’s the better baker”.
Along with being driven to build their careers in the Maui Culinary scene, Chef Kalei and Kate want to use their influence to help raise awareness to a cause close to their hearts. After the discovery of their son Suede’s hearing loss, followed by the same diagnosis for their daughter Roux, Kate has immersed herself in the Deaf/Hard of Hearing community in Hawaii, and both are advocates for hearing loss education. If you would like to learn more go to the Hawaii CSC - Comprehensive Service Center for People who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deaf-Blind.
Executive Chef Kalei Ducheneau’s drive and passion has been shining as he has been running the MALA Kitchen for recent months in the transition. When asked if he is ready for the role, he says, “I have learned so much at MALA, not only about the food and style of the cuisine, but how I want to be as a Chef.” He continued to speak about what is influencing him and inspiring him most right now. “Stepping into this role, I am focused on sourcing locally as much as possible, building relationships with the local fisherman and farmers, and maintaining the excellence that MALA has already achieved.”
MALA General Manager Lisa Kerrick was asked about her fresh new team, “You can already see this in the dishes Chef Kalei is creating. He adds his perfected touches on classic MALA dishes, and is delivering thoughtful and creative features. We’re excited to see how Chef Kalei will enhance the MALA dining experience through bringing what he has to offer to the forefront.”
Join us in congratulating Executive Chef Kalei Ducheneau and Back of House Administrator Kate Ducheneau in their new roles at Mala Ocean Tavern.
Mala Photos by Jennica Lowell
Family Photo by Grace Oliver Photography
MALA OCEAN TAVERN GETTING RECOGNIZED IN 2022
Here at Mala Ocean Tavern, we are excited and thrilled to announce some recognitions. The staff at MALA is one of a kind and we are proud to be recognized for the accomplishments of our hard working team. Under the direction of General Manager Rob Farrell and Executive Chef Alvin Savella, MALA is being launched onto a national platform, and we are humbled and honored.
We’ve made it to March and it feels like we are getting back into the groove after a couple of years of ups and downs on Maui. Here at Mala Ocean Tavern, we are excited and thrilled to announce some recognitions. The staff at MALA is one of a kind and we are proud to be recognized for the accomplishments of our hard working team. Under the direction of General Manager Rob Farrell and Executive Chef Alvin Savella, MALA is being launched onto a national platform, and we are humbled and honored.
From the Kitchen to the Bar, every person that works at our oceanfront eatery contributes to the whole, and it’s all about Aloha! Food and drinks thoughtfully created and prepared with Aloha, served with Aloha, and enjoyed with Aloha only perpetuates the feelings and way of Aloha. We hope you can experience MALA for yourself and join us oceanfront on Front Street in Lahaina for a one of a kind dining experience, and continue to the spread the Aloha.
Most recently, MALA’s Cocktail served at Brunch (daily 9a-2p) made Restaurant Hospitality’s list for “The 10 Best Cocktails at Independent Restaurants Across America”. A big congratulations to Graham Schamberg, MALA Bartender & Mixologist, for crafting this award wining cocktail for Maui’s best brunch.
At MALA, we pride ourselves on sourcing the freshest possible products and supporting other local small businesses along the way. We are lucky to have local farms and local fisherman helping us bring you quality cuisine on Maui. Along with several notable Maui Restaurants (one being our sister restaurant Down The Hatch), Mala Ocean Tavern was listed on RestaurantClicks.com’s “Ultimate Guide to Maui’s Seafood Restaurants”. Mahalos to all those working hard to bring fresh seafood to Maui’s restaurants, we could not do it without you. Fresh seafood is served daily during Brunch (Breakfast + Lunch), Happy Hour, Dinner, and during our Friday and Saturday Late Night Raw Fish & Wagyu Menu by Chef Savella.
A few year’s ago MALA brought Brunch to the Westside of Maui seven days a week and there was no looking back. MALA is the perfect spot, situated right next to a turtle conservation area on Lahaina’s shores for a sunny, ocean breeze, brunch. Serving MALA Brunch daily 9a-2p, and featuring the culinary creations by our Executive Chef Alvin Savella (you might know him at The Kitchen Assassin), it is wonderful to see Mala Ocean Tavern making it onto RestaurantClicks.com’s list for “Maui’s Brunch Guide: Where to Go This Weekend”… or in our case, any day of the week!
We hope that you join us for Brunch, Happy Hour, Dinner or Late Night. Reservations are encouraged, but we welcome walk-ins and hope you try to stop by when you are in Lahaina. Reservations can be made online or by calling MALA at (808) 667-9394.
MALA Featured on Forbespeople.com
Mala Ocean Tavern has been making waves for 17 years on the culinary front on Maui, but now under new ownership and the direction of General Manager Rob Farrell and Executive Chef Alvin Savella, MALA is getting recognized by FORBES. Forbespeople.com has listed Mala Ocean Tavern as one of five businesses to watch in 2022.
Mala Ocean Tavern has been making waves for 17 years on the culinary front on Maui, but now under new ownership and the direction of General Manager Rob Farrell and Executive Chef Alvin Savella, MALA is getting recognized by FORBES. Forbespeople.com has listed Mala Ocean Tavern as one of five businesses to watch in 2022.
Mala Ocean Tavern established in 2004 in historic Lahaina town is a classic staple of the Maui food scene. Featuring the best oceanfront dining on Maui and overlooking the old Mala Wharf. Known for exceptional cuisine, the pacific rim and mediterranean inspired menu has been drawing locals and visitors of Maui for years, with focus on locally caught fish and incorporation of exotic ingredients. November 1 of 2018 the restaurant came under new ownership. The young new owners came with ambitions to bring MALA to the next generation, keeping the vintage charm and adding contemporary vibrancy. Bringing daily Brunch and incorporating new approaches on familiar dishes, they've established a modern vibe to the oceanfront eatery.
2019 the team was hitting a stride, and then 2020. As it did for many, COVID rocked the world of MALA's new owners, knowing that if they were not open for service they would not survive. During their closure the whole staff came together to give the older structure (once a pineapple weigh station) a little TLC. Indoor/Outdoor Dining returned on June 1, 2020 and the new owners wasted no time innovating to keep the doors open and to support the local community. During Covid, the team got creative inviting 'out of work chefs' from all over the island into the MALA Kitchen to cook for the locals "starved" for normalcy (All within Covid Guidelines and mandates). After several months and many exciting chefs, one chef stood out. After selling out three different tasting menus, the MALA owners decided to extend the Executive Chef position to Chef Alvin Savella. Savella, known as "The Kitchen Assassin" for his inventive and unexpected twists on flavor combinations, agreed to join the aspiring restaurateurs. Chef Savella is bringing a fresh perspective to the cuisine and his own unique flair, elevating the atmosphere at the classic Maui restaurant. Whether Bone Marrow with Pipikaula, Seafood Brodo, or Chef Alvin's spin on HuliHuli Chicken, the fusion of tastes for your pallet will erupt. Chef Alvin say's "Foods have to look good, taste good, and bring an element of surprise." Of course, the classics are there, because there is always something for each person to share in the aloha. However, big things are happening at this unassuming restaurant by the sea.
MALA means Garden and the experience of being in a garden near the ocean as you watch turtles (honu) splashing in the surf and see rainbows over the West Maui Mountain is one of a kind. This oceanside gem allows you to absorb into island living. With nearly two decades on Maui, the restaurant wants to continue to be where locals and guests of the beautiful island of Maui come together. Sharing in the aloha and offering an authentic experience for food, atmosphere, and service. The new MALA team has been able to raise the bar for dining on Maui's Westside. Priding themselves on creative culinary cocktails, perfectly executed dishes, education of the staff about food, wine, & spirits, along with outstanding customer service, MALA hits all the marks. Island living can always be a challenge to make things new, yet the community has embraced the fresh approach and welcomes the thoughtful changes that have been brought to the best oceanfront dining on the island of Maui, Mala Ocean Tavern.
ForbesPeople.com - Recognizing 5 Businesses We’re Keeping An Eye On in 2022.
COOKING HAWAIIAN STYLE WITH EXECUTIVE CHEF ALVIN SAVELLA ON MAUI!
Chef Alvin Savella is the Executive Chef for Mala Tavern, Down The Hatch, and Breakwall Shave Ice Co. was featured on an episode for the 2021 Season and we are so proud of him! Watch Chef Alvin, known as “The Kitchen Assassin”, on Cooking Hawaiian Style (above) with Host Lanai Tabura.
Cooking Hawaiian Style just finished shooting their 15th season on Maui and one episode features our Executive Chef Alvin Savella. This season was sponsored by Maui County Farm Bureau, location sponsor Kula Country Farms, and Aloha Air Cargo.
Follow @malatavern to find our more about what’s happening at our oceanfront eatery.