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Kanemitsu Bakery Permit Reinstated, Open Tonight

Friday, November 16th, 2012

Kanemitsu Bakery Permit Reinstated, Open Tonight

Kanemitsu Bakery, after having been closed for five months, will be open in time for Thanksgiving this year. The bakery’s permit was reinstated today after the facility passed a Department of Health (DOH) inspection this morning.

Bakery manager Blossom Poepoe said staff will begin baking immediately, with the famed hot bread opening tonight starting at 8:30 p.m.

Inspectors visited the bakery Wednesday and found a few minor sanitation deficiencies, which contractors worked yesterday to correct.

“The improvement is tremendous [since the permit was suspended],” said Peter Oshiro, DOH environmental health program manager, who flew in for the Wednesday inspection.

While most of the violations had been corrected, DOH inspector Dean Kagawa said today he would reinstate the permit based on the understanding that several aspects of the facility, including the floors and some areas of the ceiling, would continue to be repaired.…

Kanemitsu Bakery Looks at the Options

Sunday, August 12th, 2012

Kanemitsu Bakery Looks at the Options

The ovens of Kanemitsu Bakery remain cold since June, when the Department of Health (DOH) suspended their permit after a complaint was filed. Since then, the bakery has been making some of the sanitation improvements stipulated by the DOH. The operation has not been able to reopen as soon as owner George Kanemitsu had originally hoped, and now he said he’s looking into additional options — including establishing a bakery on Oahu.

In the meantime, work on the Molokai facility continues. The restaurant portion of the business remains open because it operates from a separate, permitted kitchen.

Kanemitsu said he anticipates a visit from DOH inspectors, accompanied by a governor’s representative, in the next couple weeks, after which he said he will have a better idea of a date to re-open.…

Kanemitsu Bakery Permit Suspended, Renovations Planned Soon

Sunday, July 1st, 2012

Kanemitsu Bakery Permit Suspended, Renovations Planned Soon

For the second time in four months, Kanemitsu Bakery’s permit has been suspended after a June 20th inspection found “serious deficiencies in the maintenance and manufacturing practices,” according to the Department of Health (DOH). The department says the makers of the famous Molokai hot bread and other sweet specialties won’t be baking until they correct sanitation violations.

The restaurant portion of the business remains open because it operates from a separate, permitted kitchen. Despite what bakery owner George Kanemitsu calls “this heavy bomb [of the] revoked permit,” Kanemitsu remains optimistic for a speedy reopening of the bakery. He said renovations of the facility are scheduled to start this week.…

Kanemitsu Bakery to Appeal $90,000 Fine

Sunday, May 13th, 2012

Kanemitsu Bakery to Appeal $90,000 Fine

Dept. of Health cites sanitation violations

Kanemitsu Bakery plans to appeal $90,000 of fines in violations issued after failing to suspend operations for two days in March following a Department of Health (DOH) order. Kanemitsu Bakery, makers of the famous Molokai hot bread, distributes its products statewide. Customers have been giving their specialty breads rave reviews for over 75 years, but the DOH’s reaction wasn’t so enthusiastic.

“On March 7, an inspection by the DOH uncovered serious deficiencies in the maintenance and manufacturing practices conducted at the facility,” stated a DOH press release. Violations included improper cleaning of cooking implements, inadequate control of rodents, lack of hot water, and general unsanitary conditions.…

Woman in Critical Condition Following Bakery Explosion

Wednesday, July 12th, 2023

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Molokai’s Cisilia Defang remains in critical condition as of Sunday, following an accident at Kanemitsu Bakery last week that left 70 percent of her body covered in second and third degree burns. 

Thirty-one-year-old Defang was born deaf and worked at the bakery for more than two years. Kanemitsu Bakery told KHON2 she was one of their best bakers, and her family said she loved her job.

On the evening of July 4, she was working to prepare bread for the next day and turned on the gas stove around 8 p.m., according to the bakery. …

Bakery Pays $20,000 in DOH Settlement

Thursday, February 20th, 2014

After accruing $90,000 in fines to the state Department of Health in 2012 for sanitation violations, Kanemitsu Bakery has reached an agreement with the DOH to pay $20,000 instead.

DOH Communications Officer Janice Okubo said the settlement was reached outside Hawaii’s court system during hearings within the DOH that are scheduled when someone has an objection or concern about a penalty or notice of violation.

“I’m very satisfied,” said Kanemitsu Bakery owner George Kanemitsu of the resolution. “There’s no way we could have paid [the original $90,000 fine].”

Kanemitsu said the bakery’s operations are back on track after a six-month closure in 2012 following the violations.…

Bakery Remains Closed After Another Inspection

Sunday, September 23rd, 2012

Bakery Remains Closed After Another Inspection

Kanemitsu Bakery’s ovens will remain cold after failing to pass another Department of Health (DOH) inspection last Wednesday. Following a complaint in June alleging foreign substances were found in the baked goods, the bakery’s permit was suspended pending the completion of a lengthy list of sanitation improvements. Bakery owner George Kanemitsu called for Wednesday’s inspection to verify the changes had been made. While many improvements had been completed, the state inspector found that some of the necessary changes were still lacking.

“I really thought they would let me open up and fix it as we go along, but it didn’t go like that,” said Kanemitsu.…

Howard Michael Ahina Jr.

Wednesday, October 11th, 2023

Howard Michael Ahina Jr.

Howard Michael Ahina Jr. passed away on June 24 at the age of 53. He was the oldest of three siblings born to the late Howard and Shareen Ahina. Howard grew up in Ho’olehua on Pu’ukapele Avenue. He attended Kamehameha Kapalana for three years before returning to Molokai High School where he graduated in 1987. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he proudly served his country for two years. 

On April 12,1991, Howard welcomed the birth of his daughter, Leilani. His second daughter, Hiilani, was born two years later, on March 30,1993. Howard excitedly welcomed the birth of his only son, Isaiah, on June 23, 2003.…

John “Bobo” Nicholas Perez Ill

Wednesday, March 15th, 2023

John “Bobo” Nicholas Perez Ill

John “Bobo” Nicholas Perez III, 76, of Ho’olehua, Hawaii, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022 in Kamuela, Hawaii. He was born on May 12, 1946. 

Bo was a restaurant manager at Don Ho’s Island Grill, Molokai Lodge Dining Room and worked at Kanemitsu’s Bakery and Coffee Shop. He was a talented musician performing with Bell and James, Dick Jensen and Molokai Jazz West. He was high school teacher and member of the Western Washington Painters Union. Bo is a proud graduate of Molokai High Class of 1964. 

Celebration of Life will be held on April 15, 2023, Ho’olehua Congregational Church Fellowship Pavillion, 2205 Lihipali Avenue, Molokai.…

31 New Cases Last Week

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021

31 New Cases Last Week

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Last week was a high case-count week for Molokai, with between one and six new COVID positives each day for a total of 31 new cases between Friday, Sept. 10 and Friday, Sept. 17. Friday, Sept. 10, the Dept. of Health reported five new cases for the island, Saturday had two, Sunday had five, Monday had three, Tuesday had four, Wednesday had one, Thursday had five and Friday closed the week with six new cases. The island is averaging four cases per day, according to DOH, with a total of 202 cases since the pandemic began, as of last Sunday. …