DOH CLOSES KENICHI PACIFIC FOR MULTIPLE FOOD SAFETY VIOLATIONS

KAILUA-KONA — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) issued a red “closed” placard and immediately shut down Kenichi Pacific, located at 68-6831 Aliʻi Drive in Kailua-Kona on Hawaiʻi Island, due to multiple critical food safety violations.

The food establishment, operated by Dragonfly Hospitality Group, LLC, received a red placard on July 30 and must remain closed until the DOH conducts a follow-up inspection and all critical violations are resolved.

During a routine inspection, a DOH inspector observed the following violations:

• Live cockroaches on food-contact surfaces; 
• Numerous live and dead cockroaches within the kitchen and food storage areas;
• Food-contact equipment and surfaces were not clean to sight and touch; 
• Physical facilities were not maintained and cleaned.

The DOH is requiring the food establishment to take the following corrective actions:   

• Discard all contaminated food products;
• Hire a professional pest control operator and submit the service report to the DOH;
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect all food- and non-food contact surfaces;
• Remove unnecessary equipment and supplies to prevent harborage sites;
• Conduct maintenance and repair of the mechanical dishwasher and refrigerators.

The establishment is required to remain closed for business until all violations have been corrected and a follow-up inspection by the DOH has been conducted. The operator will contact the DOH for a follow-up inspection when all violations have been corrected. 

The DOH Food Safety Branch protects and promotes the health of Hawai‘i residents and visitors through education of food industry workers and regulation of food establishments statewide. The branch conducts routine health inspections of food establishments where food products are prepared, manufactured, distributed, or sold.

The branch also investigates sources of foodborne illnesses and potential adulteration. It is also responsible for mitigating the effects of these incidents to prevent any future occurrences. DOH food safety specialists strive to work with business owners, food service workers and the food industry to ensure safe food preparation practices and sanitary conditions.

For more information on the department’s placarding program go to the Food Safety Branch website. For more information about current establishment inspections, click here.

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