Mala Ocean Tavern Blog
MALA OCEAN TAVERN Joins the 21st Annual Lahaina Town Clean-Up
Join Māla at the 21st Annual Lahaina Town Cleanup on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 8 AM to 12 PM at Lahaina Cannery. Volunteers will help protect Maui’s coastline while enjoying music, refreshments, and fresh coffee from Māla and Pizza Paradiso. Be part of this global movement to care for the ocean and our Lahaina community.
On Saturday, September 27th, the Lahaina community will once again come together for one of the island’s most meaningful traditions: the 21st Annual Lahaina Town Cleanup, happening from 8 AM – 12 PM at Lahaina Cannery. This year, Māla will be on site serving fresh coffee at our tent alongside our friends at Pizza Paradiso, keeping volunteers fueled as they roll up their sleeves to care for our coastline.
The Lahaina Town Cleanup is held in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup and Mālama Maui Nui’s “Get the Drift and Bag It!” campaign, joining thousands of events around the world during International Coastal Cleanup Month. Since its founding, the movement has engaged millions of participants across more than 150 countries, removing hundreds of millions of pounds of debris from our oceans.
Here in Lahaina, it’s also a teaching moment. As event organizer Tambara Garrick of the LahainaTown Action Committee shared, “This cleanup is not only about protecting our coastline, but also about giving keiki the chance to learn the importance of environmental stewardship and service.”
Volunteers will gather on the mauka side of Lahaina Cannery, near the Starbucks entrance, for registration. Thanks to Lahaina Cannery and Waste Pro Hawai‘i, cleanup supplies and a dumpster will be on site to handle the debris.
And this year, we at MĀLA Ocean Tavern are honored to be a part of the effort, serving fresh coffee at our tent alongside our friends at Pizza Paradiso. Whether you’re grabbing a cup before heading out with your cleanup bag or stopping by for a quick break, we’ll be there to keep the caffeine (and the aloha) flowing.
What to Bring & How to Join
Volunteers will receive the official Lahaina Town Cleanup t-shirt, courtesy of Paradise Lahaina, while supplies last. Please bring:
A reusable water bottle
Gloves
Reef-safe sunscreen
And plenty of aloha spirit
Cleanup zones will extend from Olowalu to Napili, including beach areas, Lahainaluna Road, and stretches of the highway (with no admittance to closed recovery zones).
To make your efforts count even further, download the Clean Swell App and log the debris you collect. Your data will go into the International Coastal Cleanup’s Marine Debris Database, helping to shape future conservation policy and efforts.
So grab your gloves, round up your friends and family, and join us for this incredible day of service. Together, we can care for our coast and keep Maui beautiful.
📍 Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Registration: Lahaina Cannery (mauka side, near Starbucks entrance)
For more details, visit visitlahaina.com/lahainatowncleanup
Spirits by the Sea: An Addams Family Halloween at MALA Ocean Tavern
Celebrate Halloween oceanfront at Māla Ocean Tavern in Lahaina with Spirits by the Sea: An Addams Family Halloween. Join us Friday, October 31st from 10PM–1AM for a spooky-chic night featuring DJ Sarah Haywood, craft cocktails, and eerie Addams-inspired vibes. Tickets are $10 pre-sale or $20 at the door. Costumes encouraged!
This Halloween, Lahaina’s oceanfront icon transforms into something delightfully spooky. Māla Ocean Tavern invites you to celebrate the night in true Addams Family style with Spirits by the Sea: An Addams Family Halloween on Friday, October 31st from 10PM–1AM.
Step inside our seaside tavern and expect eerie ambiance, dark glamour, and plenty of “spirits” in every sense of the word. Our team has conjured up an evening that blends the mysterious charm of the Addams Family with Māla’s signature style.
🎶 Music by DJ Sarah Haywood
DJ Sarah Haywood will be spinning beats that carry you from witching hour to last call.
🍴Culinary Delights by Chef Mitch
Chef Mitch will be crafting special Halloween-inspired dishes and tavern favorites, served fresh until midnight.
🍸 Cocktails & Oceanfront Vibes
Sip on craft cocktails while the waves crash just outside. Whether you’re channeling Morticia’s elegance or Uncle Fester’s chaos, our bar will keep your spirit alive with every pour.
👻 Costumes Encouraged
This is your chance to get spooky. Dress up, lean in, and let the Addams Family spirit inspire your look - whether you’re a Gomez, a Wednesday, or your own eerie creation.
📍 Event Details
Doors open: 10:00 PM sharp
Food service: Until midnight
Party continues: Until 1:00 AM
Limited EARLYBIRD tickets: $10 (save $10)
Door admission: $20
Join us for a night where the ocean meets the macabre, and the Addams Family spirit takes over Lahaina. It’s going to be creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky, and most importantly, unforgettable.
Mala Ocean Tavern: Among Maui’s Most-Booked Oceanfront Restaurants
Mala Ocean Tavern in Lahaina is one of Maui’s most-booked restaurants. Oceanfront dining, fresh seafood, and Aloha spirit make every meal unforgettable.
Maui is home to incredible dining, but few places capture the magic of the island quite like MALA Ocean Tavern. Recently recognized on OpenTable’s Most Booked Restaurants list, MALA continues to be a top choice for locals and visitors alike.
Oceanfront Dining in the Heart of Lahaina
Set right on the water, MALA offers guests a front-row seat to Maui’s breathtaking sunsets. The sound of waves, the salty breeze, and a warm island welcome create a dining experience that’s as memorable as the food itself.
Of course, it’s not just the view that makes MALA so unforgettable, it’s the food. The menu is a celebration of Maui’s bounty, built on the island’s freshest ingredients and crafted with both creativity and care. Every plate is designed to reflect the rhythm of the ocean just steps away: vibrant, full of life, and impossible to forget. The flavors strike that perfect balance between comfort and sophistication, the kind of cooking that encourages you to slow down, sip a glass of wine, and savor every bite as the sky deepens into twilight.
What truly sets MALA apart, though, is its people. Guests often write about the Aloha spirit they feel from the moment they walk in. Servers who remember your name, a kitchen that puts heart into every plate, and a team that makes you feel less like a reservation and more like an honored guest.
With its mix of stunning views, unforgettable food, and warm hospitality, it’s no wonder MALA Ocean Tavern is one of the most booked restaurants in Maui. Tables fill quickly, especially at sunset, so reservations are a must. And once you’ve experienced it, you’ll understand why so many visitors return year after year. 💙🧡
Locals Appreciation Month: KamaʻAina Dining Specials in Lahaina
This September, Hana Hou Hospitality invites Maui locals to celebrate Locals Appreciation Month with 30% off kamaʻāina dining at our Lahaina restaurants.
At Hana Hou Hospitality, we know Maui’s heartbeat comes from its people. This September, we’re celebrating Locals Appreciation Month with a special mahalo to our island community. All month long, kamaʻāina can enjoy 30% off dining daily until 2 PM at our Lahaina restaurants: Pizza Paradiso, Pineapple Robot, Mala Ocean Tavern, and Coco Deck Lahaina.
Whether you’re looking for Mediterranean cuisine in Lahaina, oceanfront dining with fresh island seafood, innovative sushi bowls, or cocktails with a view, Hana Hou Hospitality has something for everyone. Each of our restaurants offers a unique experience, united by the same goal: to serve fresh flavors with genuine aloha.
This kamaʻāina dining special is more than a discount, it’s our way of saying thank you to the local community who supports us year-round. From family lunches to weekend brunches by the ocean, we invite you to join us in celebrating Locals Appreciation Month.
Discover why our Lahaina restaurants are favorites among both locals and visitors, and take advantage of this limited-time offer throughout September. We can’t wait to welcome you back to the table.
Mala Ocean Tavern Receives Bronze for Best Maui Restaurant in 2025 HaleʻAina Awards
Mala Ocean Tavern is proud to be named Bronze winner for Best Maui Restaurant in the 2025 Hale ʻAina Awards by Honolulu Magazine. Honored for our oceanfront dining, island-inspired cuisine, and heartfelt hospitality, this award reflects the love and support of our Lahaina community.
We are honored to share that Mala Ocean Tavern has been awarded Bronze for Best Maui Restaurant in the 2025 Hale ʻAina Awards, presented by Honolulu Magazine. This distinction places Mala among the very best in Hawaiʻi’s vibrant and competitive culinary landscape.
The HaleʻAina Awards, established in 1984, are considered the gold standard of dining recognition across the state. Voted on by thousands of local residents and passionate food lovers, the awards reflect a deep appreciation for excellence in food, service, ambiance, and hospitality. To be named among the top three restaurants on Maui is both a tremendous honor and a meaningful affirmation of the care and quality that go into every detail of the Māla experience.
Located oceanfront on Lahaina’s historic Front Street, Mala Ocean Tavern has long been known for its welcoming atmosphere, breathtaking views, and commitment to island-inspired cuisine. Whether guests are enjoying brunch by the water, a sunset dinner with loved ones, or a refreshing afternoon cocktail during happy hour, Mala offers an experience that is both elevated and grounded in the spirit of aloha.
This recognition is especially significant in light of all that the Lahaina community has endured. Following the 2023 wildfires, Mala was among the first restaurants to reopen, serving as a space for both comfort and connection during an incredibly difficult time. To be honored in 2025 is a celebration of culinary achievement, resilience, heart, and community.
We extend our heartfelt mahalos to everyone who voted for Mala and to all those who continue to support us. We are proud to be part of Maui’s rich culinary tradition and are committed to continuing to provide our guests with an unforgettable oceanfront dining experience.

