Surfrider Maui is thrilled to celebrate Kitoko, its first certified Ocean Friendly Restaurant in at least four years due to the absence of an OFR Program Lead. Kitoko's owner, Chef Cole Hinueber, also owns Blue Door Bread and Pizza Company, and runs that sustainably too. So thanks to Chef Cole, there are now two more Ocean Friendly Restaurants in Maui!
Chef Cole Hinueber, owner of Kitoko and Blue Door (left) and Suparna Vashisht, Maui's OFR Lead (right)Caring for the land and the ocean is a deeply-held value for Chef and owner, Cole Hinueber, "even if it means doing things the hard way". Kitoko is one of the food "trucks" at South Maui Gardens in Kihei, serving delicious Asian-inspired food.
Food trucks have very limited space so food is typically served in disposables. But Chef Cole serves his food in reusable foodware because "it is better for our ocean and land, and it is a much better eating experience." It is also better for the customer's health to not eat in disposable foodware typically made with chemical additives. He is so passionate about serving in reusables that when diners say they want the food in disposables, he persuades them to take food in his reusable plates and tins instead!
Kitoko is a small food truck but it's next to Blue Door Bread and Pizza Company which has a small kitchen. There's no dishwashing machine so Chef Cole has set up a 3-bin system permitted by the health department and has to ensure he has staffing for dishwashing, which is not an easy task in Maui. He goes the extra mile because it is important to him to reduce pollution from disposables and protect the beautiful island.
Since one of the OFR mandatory criteria is that straws have to be paper or 99-100% biobased, Chef Cole was asked about the straws provided. Kitoko and Blue Door avoid keeping straws altogether by only selling beverages that come in glass bottles or cans. Kitoko exclusively serves sustainably sourced seafood, almost all of which is also local. Produce for Kitoko and Blue Door is almost entirely from local farms that follow organic and regenerative practices.
Blue Door Bread and Pizza Company has a tempting array of concessions and pre-packaged food items and all of them are plastic-free. Take out orders and "doggie bags" for both Blue Door and Kitoko are packed in fiber based disposables.
Blue Door Bread and Pizza Company and Kitoka are located at the south end of South Maui Gardens (Kihei), probably the most lovely "food truck stop" in the country, so show some love to these fabulous new OFRs by heading over for an enjoyable dining experience.
Chef Cole Hinueber, owner of Kitoko and Blue DoorIf you live in Maui and would like to help us increase the number of Ocean Friendly Restaurants, please reach out to ofr@maui.surfrider.org.
Is your local restaurant Ocean Friendly? If not, encourage them to sign up and join the movement to end single-use plastics!