Business Monday: Hale Kanikapila brings new energy to a familiar space in downtown Hilo

With bright new lights illuminating Keawe Street and live music echoing from the speakers, a new restaurant, bar and venue is revitalizing downtown Hilo in the same location where a beloved bar closed unexpectedly in 2025.

Hale Kanikapila opened at 143 Keawe St., the former site of the Hilo Town Tavern.

When the tenantsʻ who owned the tavern left unexpectedly, building owner Issa Hilwe searched for people dedicated to reviving Hilo’s nightlife.

Hilwe contacted two people, who contacted two more people, leading to a four-person hui (group) dedicated to creating something unique and seizing the opportunity to reopen an important venue in downtown Hilo.

Hilwe first reached out to Thom and Jeyne Kerns, who have owned Big Island Brewhaus in Waimea for more than 15 years. Since they were a little unsure, Thom Kerns reached out to fellow brewmaster and old friend, Fal Allen, to pursue a possible partnership.

“I’ve known Fal through the brewing industry for over 20 years and we’ve always talked about doing something together,” Thom Kerns said. “This seemed to fall on our laps and I knew we needed some sort of partnership to make it work.”

Born and raised on the Big Island, Allen was working as a brewmaster for Anderson Valley Brewing Company and his partner, Jen Greico, was a substitute teacher. It was always their plan to retire from their jobs and move to the island, so they decided that the end of 2025 was the perfect time to make it happen.

Allen and Greico knew they wanted to have something to build and work on when they moved, but owning a restaurant, bar and venue was never the direct plan.

“I was back in California during Thanksgiving when he texted me that he ‘might’ have bought a bar,” Greico said. “It was exciting, but neither of us knew how much work it would entail.”

Allen said: “We were on the fence at first. The Tavern needed a lot of work, but it was a cool space and an anchor spot in town. We decided to make an offer we all felt was fair, and Issa accepted it. His main goal was to ensure the business would stay put, and we don’t plan to go anywhere.”

In December, the hui began renovations to improve the building. They repainted the walls from black to yellow and burgundy, extended the bar, and updated the restrooms. The most significant change was removing a wall to extend the bar, which included clearing an attic filled with “anything and everything.”

“This place was filled with 30 years of stuff,” Allen said. “We cleaned out decades-old ceiling fans, at least three toilets, compressors and solid pieces of wood. We gathered friends to help with the work, taking about four months in total.”

The hui is unsure how much the renovations cost since the four of them all had a part in purchasing the materials and completing a large portion of the work themselves. When they had to pay for a service, it was often discounted since it was through a friend.

The hui decided it was time for a rebrand, naming the new business Hale Kanikapila based on their goal for the business. The name Kanikapila is after the Hawaiian tradition of spontaneous, joyful jam sessions where friends and family gather to play music, share stories, enjoy food and celebrate life.

“People were waiting for a place like this to open,” said bartender Dao Nguyen, who is also a former bartender of the Hilo Town Tavern. “So many people drove by and saw it change slowly over the last few months.

“You didn’t know what it would be, so when it finally opened, people came in by the masses. From what I’ve heard behind the bar, everyone is pretty happy.”

The first weekend started with a bang. After a soft opening on Wednesday night, they officially opened on Thursday to a low-key crowd, which grew dramatically on Friday night with live music from the band Rhythm X. On Saturday, the popular Pink Drag Show returned to its usual venue after a hiatus triggered by the Hilo Town Tavern’s closure.

Despite the patio’s sold-out drag show entertaining customers, the indoor area around the bar was packed with standing room only. Customers were undeterred by long lines or waits for their next drink.

“The Tavern was known for its stage on the patio, and that’s why we were drawn to this opportunity,” Thom Kerns said. “Music has been integral here, and it’s a great venue. Music is about giving to the community, and that’s our goal.”

Though only open for a week, Hale Kanikapila is filling its calendar with live music acts and weekly events such as DJ Mondays, Open Mic Tuesdays and Karaoke Wednesdays.

This week, there will be a live jazz and R&B show on Thursday and DJ Derrick Funky Soul on Friday.

“Our goal is to develop the culture we’re building here one day at a time,” Thom Kerns said. “We have employees ready to grow together, build the team, and make everything work. I’m also excited about our food ideas and how we’re honoring local food culture through elevated bar food.”

The menu draws from many Hawaiian traditions with a twist. Examples include Crispy Yuzu-Kosha Karaage Sando (influenced by Japanese dishes), Vinha D’Alhos Loaded Fries (inspired by Portuguese dishes), Hilo Pastele Saimin (influenced by Puerto Rican dishes) and Huli-Huli Chicken and Papaya Salad (a Hawaiian dish).

“The food might seem fancy, but it’s familiar,” Thom Kerns said. “The dishes are approachable, and we aim for more family-style dining. We plan to have a rotating menu and seasonal draft beer options.”

Hale Kanikapila is open from 3:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 3:30 p.m. to midnight Friday, Saturday and Monday. Menu updates and calendar changes can be found on their Facebook and Instagram pages.

The hui encourages more talent to reach out for opportunities on the Hale Kanikapila calendar. They aim to fill the calendar with as much local talent as possible. For more information, visit the Hale Kanikapila website.