Pele’s Kitchen, a popular Pahoa breakfast spot, has closed indefinitely after a fire damaged the restaurant Tuesday.
The Hawaii Fire Department and the Hawaii Police Department responded to a structure fire at Pele’s Kitchen, located at 15-2923 Pahoa Village Rd., with the first unit responding at 8:41 p.m. Tuesday night.
When they arrived on scene, crews found the fire was contained to the restaurant’s 25-foot by 20-foot attached storage area and was 75% involved in flames, according to HFD.
Firefighters from three engine companies attacked the fire, and a tanker also responded to supply additional water and manpower.
Police closed Pahoa Village Road until the fire was extinguished. No one was found in the structure at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries reported.
The cause of the fire is currently undetermined, and fire inspectors arrived on the scene to begin an investigation, according to HFD.
Owners Stephen and Casey Yundt spent Wednesday morning clearing out some salvageable items and talking with community members after a stressful night.
Many residents stopped to help and talk to the Yundts about the fire, and visitors stopped in front of the restaurant only to find it closed.
Although the fire did not cause much burn damage to the kitchen and restaurant seating area, the Yundts don’t foresee reopening anytime soon due to a lack of insurance coverage.
“The damage is going to cost us at least $100,000, because we don’t have insurance,” Stephen Yundt said. “Ever since the Lahaina fire, we lost our insurance and haven’t found anyone willing to insure.”
According to Amedeo Markoff, president of Mainstreet Pahoa, many businesses within Lava Zones 1 and 2 have a hard time finding or keeping commercial property insurance.
“There are some serious issues with insurance in general. About 3,000 homes in Lava Zones 1 and 2 recently lost coverage,” Markoff said. “I know our local politicians are working hard to find a resolution, but the issue has not been addressed on a state level.”
Pele’s Kitchen survived the economic hardships caused by the 2018 Kilauea eruption and the COVID-19 pandemic, and has remained has a fan-favorite spot for its farm-to-table breakfast menu.
Stephen Yundt opened the restaurant in Pahoa in 2013 and has worked to only serve fresh, organic and local food, much of it coming from his farm, Puna Gold Estate.
“This is really sad, because it has really become a central part of downtown,” Stephen Yundt said. “I don’t really know what comes next.”
Pele’s Kitchen is located across the street from the former Luquin’s Mexican Restaurant and historic Akebono Theatre, which were gutted by a fire that shocked the community in January 2017.
“This is kind of bringing some PTSD from the Luquin’s fire that burnt down the business, which was the epicenter of town. This time it happened across the street,” Markoff said. “A lot of businesses are concerned, because it harkens back to that fire as it changed the whole town.”
Casey Yundt took over daily operations of Pele’s Kitchen since 2020 and has been making payments to fully purchase the building that has become iconic to Main Street.
The building is covered in colorful paintings and local art created by the owners, employees, community members and students from Pahoa schools.
“The restaurants and stores on Main Street are the backbone of the community in Pahoa, and there is a lot of strain on them,” Markoff said. “It’s important to remember that without theses businesses, we’ll have less services, longer commutes and increased costs for an already socio-economically disadvantaged area.”
The Yundts ask community members and supporters to keep their eyes out for a GoFundMe page that will be used to repair and reopen the popular eatery.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com