The Palms Bar & Bites, a new open-air restaurant and bar overlooking Kahului Bay at Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore, will hold its grand opening — complete with tropical cocktails and pūpū, local entertainment, lei-making and more — on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
Owned by Peachtree Group and operated by Springboard Hospitality, Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore first welcomed guests in May. The 136-room hotel property sits on the historic site of the former Maui Palms Hotel, which operated between 1950-1990 and was demolished by 2002, per Maui Now.
“The Palms Bar & Bites pays tribute to the former Maui Palms Hotel while bringing a fresh, modern feel to the space,” Serkan Hizliok, area general manager of Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore, told Aloha State Daily by email. “The name honors the property’s history, and the restaurant reimagines it as a relaxed, open-air spot where guests can enjoy island flavors and ocean views.”
The property offers traditional Hawaiian experiences for guests, including a Sunset Ceremony and Oshibori, a daily essential oil-infused towel ritual, according to the hotel. As for amenities, “Guests can relax at the ocean-facing pool, take advantage of the modern fitness center, and enjoy pet-friendly guestrooms, daily breakfast, and complimentary beach amenities such as beach chairs, towels and umbrellas.”
Open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., the restaurant features light bites, tropical cocktails and shareable plates including steak and seafood dishes like coconut shrimp with sweet chili-pineapple dipping sauce, housemade furikake chips, poke bowls and loco moco.
The Palms Bar & Bites' happy hour runs daily from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., featuring $6 draft beers, $12 cocktails — from rum classics like The Palms Mai Tai and Blue Hawaiian to innovative concoctions called That’s My Jam and Tequila Mockingbird — and $4 off all food items. Keiki food options are also available. Local residents can enjoy 10% off food, the hotel notes.
ASD asked Hizliok — who has managed properties across the Hawaiian Islands for more than a decade — more about how business is going, lessons learned so far, and what he’s most excited about for the debut of this restaurant.
How has business been since you opened earlier this year? Who are your guests, and what’s been their feedback? Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore officially opened in April 2025, and it’s been an exciting first season. We’ve welcomed a mix of travelers, from couples and families to solo adventurers. Guest feedback has been incredibly positive, with many complementing our oceanfront location and views, and signature Hawaiian traditions like our nightly sunset ceremony and cultural programming.
Why is now the right time to open this restaurant? Who designed/built out the space? We’re excited to officially open The Palms Bar & Bites, which feels like the final touch in bringing the Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore project to life. With the high season for travel winding down, we’ve been bringing in a lot of locals, so it's been fun to share this with the community.
Local cultural advisors played a key role in shaping the space, ensuring it honors the community’s heritage and provides a memorable guest experience.
What is your favorite item on the menu, and what do you like about it? The poke bowl brings together fresh, vibrant flavors on one plate, offering a satisfying balance of taste and presentation.
How many local jobs has the hotel created? Are you still hiring for any key positions? How does the restaurant’s team source ingredients and/or how did they curated the menu offerings? Our team has grown to more than 50 positions across the hotel and restaurant, with hiring still underway for a Chief Engineer role. The majority of our ingredients are sourced locally, and while we don’t have a traditional executive chef, our menu was thoughtfully curated to celebrate fresh, regional flavors.
What have you been learning lately as a leader? As Mark Twain said, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started."
For more information, about Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore, click here.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
