Waikōloa eatery immediately shut down for rodent infestation, food safety violations

Waikōloa Restaurant & Bar was issued a red “closed” placard and immediately shut down due to a rodent infestation and multiple critical food safety violations, according to the Hawai‘i Department of Health.

The state department inspected the establishment at 68-1790 Melia St. in Waikōloa Village, also known as Johnny’s Restaurant, this week after receiving a complaint. During that visit, state inspectors found the following:

• Significant visual evidence of rodent activity, including rodent feces on food-contact surfaces and cooking equipment and rub marks along walls, conduits and other fixtures.
• Food packaging observed adulterated with rodent feces and gnaw marks.
• Visible points of entry for pests.
• Equipment food-contact surfaces and physical facilities are not maintained and cleaned.

The food establishment, operated by Ofelia Shively, received the red placard on Sept. 2 and must remain closed until DOH conducts a follow-up inspection and all critical violations are resolved. The food establishment must take the following corrective actions:

• Discard all adulterated foods.
• Points of entry on perimeter walls and ceiling are to be sealed, torn window screens must be replaced or patched, and the kitchen doors are to remain closed when not in use.
• Facility must be thoroughly cleaned and contaminated surfaces are to be disinfected.
• A contracted professional pest control operator must assess/treat the facility for rodents.

In a statement posted to Johnny’s Restaurant’s Facebook page, the owners write about their love for the community, how they “care deeply about the restaurant we’ve built here over the last seven years.”

“We work hard to maintain high standards through daily cleaning, weekly professional kitchen cleanings, and monthly pest control,” the post reads. “However, we are an open-air restaurant on a golf course, which has its challenges.”

The restaurant owners write they are identifying the areas that need to be addressed.

“We took quick action and are working closely with our cleaning and pest control companies, as well as the Health Department, to ensure everything is fully remedied,” they stated.

DOH Food Safety Branch protects and promotes the health of Hawai‘i residents and visitors through education of food industry workers and regulation of food establishments statewide. The branch conducts routine health inspections of food establishments where food products are prepared, manufactured, distributed or sold.

For more information on the department’s placarding program, visit the Food Safety Branch website. For updates on food establishment inspections, visit the FSB Inspections Site.