Multiple sources report that T S Restaurants has signed a letter of intent to reopen Kimo’s Restaurant on a new Front Street location in Lahaina, nearly three years after the iconic eatery was destroyed in the August 2023 wildfire. The restaurant, a Lahaina waterfront landmark for nearly 50 years, will be anchored in the historic Chan Wa Building, which is being restored by local business partners Kent Untermann and Mousa Hassan. Design and development are still underway, with reopening expected within the next several years.
- T S Restaurants CEO Jackie Reed confirmed the company has signed a letter of intent for a new Front Street location, distinct from the original site due to ongoing uncertainty about makai-side redevelopment plans.
- Kimo’s will serve as the anchor tenant in the restored Chan Wa Building, a historic Lahaina structure being redeveloped by Kent Untermann and Mousa Hassan.
- Kimo’s was the first T S Restaurants location, founded in 1977; the parent company also operates Leilani’s on the Beach, Hula Grill Kaʻanapali, Duke’s Maui, and Duke’s Waikiki.
- T S Restaurants has been focused on supporting nearly 300 Maui employees who lost their homes in the 2023 wildfire. (Hawaii Public Radio)
- Partner Mousa Hassan lost several of his own businesses in the fire, making the Kimo’s revival personally significant for him.
- No reopening date has been set; design and development of the new building are still underway.
Sources
- Alohastatedaily: Aloha State Daily | Kimo’s Restaurant set to return to Lahaina’s Front Street
- Hawaii Public Radio: Iconic Lahaina restaurant Kimo’s will reopen its doors in a new Front Street location
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