Pancho & Lefty’s Cantina & Restaurante in Kailua-Kona Reopens

Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi – The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) has authorized the reopening of Pancho & Lefty’s Cantina & Restaurante, issuing a green “pass” placard during a follow-up inspection conducted on August 12, 2025.

The restaurant, located at 75-5725 Aliʻi Drive, had been closed since August 7 due to multiple critical food safety violations. The DOH had required the establishment to take a series of corrective actions, including:

• Discarding all contaminated food products.
• Having a professional pest control operator perform service.
• Completing a deep cleaning and disinfection of all food- and non-food contact surfaces.
• Retraining employees on proper food storage.
• Ensuring handwashing stations are unobstructed and equipped with disposable towels.
• Ensuring at least one employee with a valid Safe Food Handler certificate is on duty.

During the follow-up inspection, the DOH determined that all corrective actions had been completed. The restaurant is now allowed to resume operations.

The DOH Food Safety Branch protects and promotes the health of Hawaiʻi residents and visitors through the regulation of food establishments statewide.