Sommelier Caleb Hopkins is the new general manager of Down the Hatch. Down the Hatch photo
What do you get when you mix good, ol’ Southern hospitality with Hawaiian aloha spirit?
The answer is the warm and welcoming feel exuding from the Georgia-born owners and the staff of Down the Hatch and sister outlet Breakwall Shave Ice at Wharf Cinema Center in Lahaina.
“At Down the Hatch, we like to practice what we call, ‘Southern aloha,’ “ says Javier Barberi, a partner in both venues with two other Peach State gentlemen, David Fincher and Julian Bonfardim.
“Down in Georgia, it’s called Southern hospitality and on Maui it’s called aloha, so we have combined the two.”
In fact, you don’t have to travel south of the Mason-Dixon line to savor comforting chicken and waffles with gravy and maple syrup; shrimp po’ boys stuffed in housemade baguettes; and Cajun catch with butter and garlic rice.
Krystille Bayudan (left) and Kiana Schaefer enjoy adult shave ice from sister restaurant Breakwall Shave Ice. Down the Hatch photo
Even Down the Hatch’s new General Manager Caleb Hopkins is from Georgia and he reports that guests say they “feel the sense of graciousness and welcoming. They are so appreciative.”
Hopkins was sommelier at Merriman’s Kapalua and manager of Pulehu at Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas, where he met its director of restaurants, Barberi, and the two Georgians hit it off.
“My partners and I opened Down the Hatch almost two years ago,” says Barberi. “It’s garden level, open air with waterfalls and streams. Then we moved our Breakwall Shave Ice that was on Prison Street next to it here in 2015 and we started serving adult shave ice there.”
“It’s a really fun novelty,” adds Hopkins. ” ‘The Booze Traveler’ filmed part of its Maui episode at Breakwall. Popular shave ices are Mud Slides, mango margaritas, strawberry-guava daiquiris, Bailey’s and vodka and more. If a customer wants to build their own, we do it.”
Breakwall happy hour is from 2 to 6 p.m. daily with $5 adult shave ices. It also serves kid-friendly versions along with acai bowls, smoothies and cold-pressed coffee.
Down the Hatch’s ahi samurai is a crowd pleaser. Down the Hatch photo
Getting back to Down the Hatch, every week, Fresh-squeezed Friday kicks off the fun at 6 p.m. with new handcrafted cocktails using locally sourced ingredients created by bartenders Adam Rio, named the No. 1 mixologist in a local newspaper’s 2016 poll, and Bree Richardson.
Down the Hatch also hosts what it calls the “longest happy hour on Maui” flowing from 2 to 6 p.m. daily with 20 percent off all appetizers, $5 Hawaiian cocktails, $4 well drinks and $3 draft beers.
Dig into crisp calamari strips with sweet Thai chili sauce; lava-lava shrimp erupting with green and red onions; and coconut shrimp with mango salsa.
“All of our food revolves around fish,” says Barberi.” We try to be as sustainable as possible and get fish from the harbor locals. We do fish plates, sandwiches, tacos and the ahi samurai, which is black-pepper seared with avocado hummus, pickled red onion, wasabi aioli, balsamic glaze, sprouts and crunchy crostini.”
Down the Hatch prides itself on having happenings daily, whether it’s midday live music, late-night deejay spins or an exciting theme party or two.
Chicken and waffles; Down the Hatch photo
“We always have something going on,” says Barberi. “Once a month on Mondays we do lip-sync battles and old-school bingo, and we do trivia night on Sundays and $5 movie and $5 menu night on Tuesdays. We even do Giant Jenga.”
On Wednesday, Barberi will present the Cockfight Speed Cocktail Contest at 8 p.m. with 10 top bartenders from West Maui competing. Want to be a spectator? Come on down and check it out.
“We strive to have fun entertainment for locals and visitors alike in the only outdoor bar in Lahaina,” says Barberi. “Plus locals get 20 percent off food.”
The partners converted Down the Hatch into a counter-style of service awhile back and it’s been a big hit.
“People can order faster and we’re able to keep our prices low. It’s affordable, so a lot of locals come here,” Barberi adds.
Lava-lava shrimp erupting out of a martini glass. Down the Hatch photo
In the mood for live music at 10:30 in the morning? No problemo. Down the Hatch will have you tapping your feet to Noa Zeb today and Saturday, Corey Rezner on Friday, Alex Calma on Sunday and so on. Deejays spin from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.
“We have the late-night hot spot in Lahaina town. We do what most others don’t — our kitchen is open until midnight. It’s the place where people come after work and visitors play. We’ve got all age groups. We are very blessed,” concludes Barberi.
Down The Hatch fast facts:
• Where: Garden level of Wharf Cinema Center at 658 Front St. in Lahaina.
• Hours: Open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Kitchen is open until midnight; and the longest happy hour on Maui mixes it up from 2 to 6 p.m. daily.
Cocktails will be flowing at the Cockfight Speed Cocktail Contest on Wednesday. Down the Hatch photo
• Breakwall Shave Ice: Down the Hatch’s sister outlet serves adult shave ice and more from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
• Tap your feet: Enjoy live music from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily and deejay music from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays.
• Cocktail competition:Tickets are $10 in advance and $20 day of contest for spectators. Fun begins at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
• Kamaaina discount: Hawaii residents get 20 percent off food.
• For more details: Call 661-4900 or visit www.dthmaui.com.
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