About Us

At Hana Hou Restaurant, our story is one of resilience, passion, and deep community roots.

Owners Zane Monteleone and Marc Umayam bring over 40 years of combined experience in the restaurant industry, each dedicating two decades to perfecting their craft. Their shared passion lies in creating dishes that blend the nostalgic warmth of comfort food with innovative creativity…resulting in meals that are both familiar and refreshingly new.

In 2023, tragedy struck when the devastating Lahaina Wildfires destroyed Zane’s and Marc’s home of Lahaina. With nowhere to go, they found refuge on the Big Island of Hawai‘i, where fate…and friendship, opened a new door.

Patty, the beloved former owner of Hana Hou Restaurant and a longtime friend of Zane’s father, Noel, offered them more than just a new beginning. She generously chose to retire and pass on the legacy of Hana Hou to Zane and Marc. At the same time, she welcomed Noel into her home, after he narrowly escaped the fires with nothing but his life and a shirt covered in holes from falling ashes. Patty’s kindness and the strong bonds of friendship became the foundation of Hana Hou’s next chapter.

Now at the heart of Nā‘ālehu, Zane and Marc are committed to giving back to the community that welcomed them so warmly. Deeply community-oriented, they proudly support local fishermen and ranchers. They sponsor the local wrestling team and support local rodeo competitors, ensuring Hana Hou is not just a restaurant…but a pillar of support and connection in the town they now call home.

At Hana Hou, every dish tells a story. A story of survival, community, and the joy of coming together around good food. We invite you to be a part of it.