2025 ʻAIPONO AWARDS
Celebrating Maui’s culinary community
ʻAipono brings together ʻai, “to eat,” and pono, “excellence.” Maui Nō Ka ʻOi launched the awards in 2005 to recognize the restaurants, chefs and food businesses that shape Maui’s dining scene.
At the 2025 ʻAipono Awards Gala on April 26 at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, Maui’s culinary community celebrated the year’s honorees and raised funds for UH Maui College’s Culinary Arts Program.
Looking for the latest winners? See the 2026 ʻAipono Award Winners
Featured 2025 Honors
Restaurant of the Year
- Gold
- Silver
Chef of the Year
Chef Zach Sato
Executive Chef & Co-Owner of Havens Chow Cart
and Havens Harborside Fish & Chophouse
Chef of the Year video profile.
Friend of Agriculture
Chef Ryan Luckey
Executive Chef of The Pint & Cork
Friend of Agriculture video profile.
Find a 2025 Award Category
2025 Award Categories
- RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
- BEST SERVICE
- MOST INNOVATIVE MENU
- BEST OCEANFRONT DINING
- MOST "MAUI-EST"
- BEST ROMANTIC SETTING
- BEST NEW RESTAURANT
- BEST HAWAIʻI REGIONAL CUISINE
- BEST PACIFIC RIM CUISINE
- BEST LŪʻAU
- BEST CHEF'S TABLE
- BEST FARM-TO-TABLE CUISINE
- BEST PIZZA
- BEST BURGER
- BEST HEALTHY FARE
- BEST RESTAURANT POKE
- BEST STEAK
- BEST FISH & SEAFOOD
- BEST DESSERT
- BEST ASIAN CUISINE
- BEST SOUTHEAST ASIAN CUISINE
- BEST MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE
- BEST MEXICAN CUISINE
- BEST ITALIAN CUISINE
- BEST PLATE LUNCH
- BEST NOODLES
- BEST SUSHI
- BEST SHAVE ICE
- BEST FOOD TRUCK
- BEST COFFEE SHOP
- BEST BAKERY
- BEST BREAKFAST
- BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
- BEST GRAB & GO MARKET
- BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING
- BEST WINE LIST
- BEST HANDCRAFTED COCKTAILS
- BEST HAPPY HOUR
- BEST LOBBY LOUNGE
- BEST BAR
Complete 2025 Award Results
Browse the complete historical record of Gold, Silver and Honorable Mention results in its original category order.
Visit the winners: Select a linked business name to open its verified official website or social profile. Award names are preserved exactly as published in 2025.
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
- Gold
- Silver
BEST SERVICE
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
MOST INNOVATIVE MENU
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST OCEANFRONT DINING
- Gold
- Silver
MOST "MAUI-EST"
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST ROMANTIC SETTING
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
- Silver – Tie
- Honorable Mention
BEST HAWAIʻI REGIONAL CUISINE
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST PACIFIC RIM CUISINE
- Gold
- Honorable Mention
BEST LŪʻAU
- Gold
- Silver
BEST CHEF'S TABLE
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST FARM-TO-TABLE CUISINE
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST PIZZA
- Silver – Tie
- Honorable Mention
BEST BURGER
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST HEALTHY FARE
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST RESTAURANT POKE
- Silver
BEST STEAK
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST FISH & SEAFOOD
- Gold
- Silver
BEST DESSERT
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST ASIAN CUISINE
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST SOUTHEAST ASIAN CUISINE
- Gold
- Honorable Mention
BEST MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST MEXICAN CUISINE
- Gold
- Silver
BEST ITALIAN CUISINE
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST PLATE LUNCH
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST NOODLES
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST SUSHI
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST SHAVE ICE
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST FOOD TRUCK
- Gold
- Silver – Tie
- Honorable Mention
BEST COFFEE SHOP
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST BAKERY
- Silver
BEST BREAKFAST
- Gold
- Silver – Tie
- Honorable Mention
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
- Gold
- Silver
BEST GRAB & GO MARKET
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING
- Gold
- Silver – Tie
- Honorable Mention
BEST WINE LIST
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST HANDCRAFTED COCKTAILS
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST HAPPY HOUR
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST LOBBY LOUNGE
- Gold – Tie
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
BEST BAR
- Gold
- Silver
- Honorable Mention
Gala Highlights
The 2025 ʻAipono Awards Gala was held on April 26, 2025, at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, benefiting UH Maui College’s Culinary Arts Program.
Awards-Night Photographs
Explore scenes and honorees from the 2025 gala.
Interview with Shep Gordon
Interview recorded for the 2025 ʻAipono Awards.
Mahalo to Our 2025 Sponsors
2025 Sponsor Directory
We gratefully recognize the organizations that supported the 2025 ʻAipono Awards. Visit a sponsor to learn more.
- The Ritz-Carlton Maui, KapaluaHost Sponsor
- Southwest AirlinesLead Sponsor
- Alaska AirlinesAdditional Sponsor
- Hawaiian AirlinesAdditional Sponsor
- Maui Gold Pineapple CompanyAdditional Sponsor
- Maui Brewing Co.Additional Sponsor
- Ocean Organic VodkaAdditional Sponsor
- The Estates GroupAdditional Sponsor
- Four Seasons Resort Maui at WaileaAdditional Sponsor
- Andaz Maui at Wailea ResortAdditional Sponsor
- Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & SpaAdditional Sponsor
- Maui Hotel & Lodging AssociationAdditional Sponsor
- Maui Farm BureauAdditional Sponsor
- Maui PrintingAdditional Sponsor
- Event HorizonAdditional Sponsor
Continue with Maui Nō Ka ʻOi
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