OPAKAPAKA GRILL & BAR

The original opening of Opakapaka was a testament to Fraser's skills and years of experience in the restaurant industry, but it was how he reacted to the community need during the Kauai flood of 2018 that really showed his heart. Opakapaka Grill & Bar managed to be one of the only places in the North Shore community of Wainiha that was spared from the floods. As the rest of the entire community was under water and cut off from the other parts of the island due to landslides covering Kuhio Highway, the friendly neighborhood bar and grill became a lifeline for the community for 14 months. During that very long time of isolation, Opakapaka fed the community, county workers, and first responders, at first for free, then at a very reduced cost, to make sure that no one went hungry. They also fed the children who attended the makeshift school at Hanalei Colony Resort and served as a community hub where residents could access information and resources and where elected officials could gather..

Primary location: Wainiha United States