Lee Anne Wong’s Lahaina restaurant, Papaʻaina, burned in the 2023 Maui wildfires. In a June 2026 interview, Wong said she does not plan to rebuild it, still lives on Maui and is focusing on Koko Head Cafe on Oʻahu.
What happened to Lee Anne Wong’s Maui restaurant?
Papaʻaina was inside the historic Pioneer Inn in Lahaina. The inn was built in 1901, according to Cherry Bombe’s 2023 interview with Wong. PBS NewsHour reported in September 2023 that the restaurant burned in the early days of the fires.
Wong is a Chinese American chef known to television audiences through “Top Chef”; her career and restaurant background are outlined in Food Network’s biography.
How Wong helped after the fires
In September 2023, Wong joined local chefs and volunteers in efforts to get food and supplies to Maui residents and first responders. PBS NewsHour reported that the effort fed up to 10,000 residents per day at the time. That figure describes the immediate relief work in 2023, not a current daily total.
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Wong’s plans for Papaʻaina and her work now
In a June 7, 2026 interview with Reality Blurred, Wong said, “While I don’t plan on rebuilding, we live here still.” She said she continues to live on Maui and is concentrating on Koko Head Cafe on Oʻahu, flying there regularly and working with its team on menu changes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Wong’s message to visitors
Wong urged visitors to support Maui businesses and restaurants that have recovered, moved or opened since the fires. “Please support local, please support small business, please go out there,” she said in the June 2026 interview. Her appeal is a general call to support local businesses, not a recommendation of a particular merchant or donation channel.
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