Famous Hawaii Island bakery vows to reopen after Hurricane Lala

NĀʻĀLEHU (HawaiiNewsNow) — Known for its pillowy sweetbread, Punaluʻu Bake Shop was the heart of Nāʻālehu, providing jobs for many local residents and supporting community organizations with fundraisers and events over the years.

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However, damage from Hurricane Lala has shut the bakery down for the time being. Management says that eventually, they will be back in business.

“There is probably about two to three feet of rubble covering the entire property. As you get up there to our old parking lot, we’re looking at places that have 10 to 15 feet of rubble,” general manager Zachary Kennedy said.

Since 1991, the famous bakery — also known for being the southernmost bake shop in the country — sat at the entrance of Kaʻalāiki Road, which is now blocked by a landslide that sent debris, headstones, and human remains down from the Nāʻālehu Cemetery.

“It’s absolutely heartbreaking and it’s just catastrophic damage. None of us expected it to be this bad,” Kennedy said.

On average, the bakery welcomed up to 500,000 visitors each year. The shop closed ahead of Hurricane Lala and for now, there is no reopening date.

“The goal of the Punaluʻu Bake Shop was to create jobs for the community. We’re one of the largest employers in Kaʻū. And you know there was never a need to open a bakery somewhere else when we can give jobs to people here,” Kennedy said.

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One container of baked goods floated across the street to Nāʻālehu Park. When workers opened it two days after the storm, the items were still frozen and safe to eat.

They decided to give it away to their neighbors.

“In times like this, I think it’s more important that we take care of the community,” Kennedy added.

While Punaluʻu bread won’t be on store shelves for the foreseeable future, management confirmed there are plans to rebuild and salvage the bake shop’s legacy.

“We have been told that we are going to reopen, so we know that. As far as timeline goes, we just won’t know until we start going,” Kennedy said.

A GoFundMe has been set up to benefit the direct needs of the shop’s more than 50 employees and their families, many of whom have worked at the bakery for decades. The fundraiser has already raised more than $83,000.

“It’s gonna take time, but we’re gonna get it. We’re gonna get it done,” Kennedy said.

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