The new restaurant Via! By Sale Pepe recently opened in Kaanapali. Photo courtesy Spencer Starnes
There’s a new culinary addition to Whaler’s Village in Kaanapali, bringing a bit of New York City flair to Maui.
Via! by Sale Pepe is a fresh new concept to Maui’s dining scene that debuted recently.
According to a news release, husband-and-wife restaurateurs Michele and Qiana Di Bari are bringing a fast-casual twist to the Italian flavors that made their Lahaina favorite, Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina, one of the island’s most beloved dining destinations.
Designed for convenience without compromising on flavor, Via! features a streamlined menu of build-your-own pastas, New York-style and Roman-style pizzas by the slice and crisp salads. All items are crafted with the same attention to detail and quality ingredients that define Di Bari’s approach to Italian cooking.
“This concept has been in the works for a long time,” co-owner Qiana Di Bari said. “It’s inspired by Michele’s Italian roots and my New York upbringing. Simple food with great flavor, served with aloha and a little New York swagger.”
Guests can choose from house-made pastas like rigatoni, fusilli or spaghetti, and pair them with signature sauces such as basil pesto, marinara, or parmesan cream. Gluten-free options are available. At the pizza counter, classic New York cheese and pepperoni slices share space with Roman-style white pies topped with mozzarella and spicy Calabrese.
Via!’s sister restaurant, Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina, reopened in March, becoming the first restaurant lost in the 2023 Lahaina wildfires to rebuild and return to Lahaina town.
Celebrated for its handmade dishes and dedication to high-quality ingredients, Sale Pepe blends traditional Italian cooking with personal influences from Milan, Brooklyn, and Maui — crafted with intention by Maui’s only certified pizzaiolo.
Via! By Sale Pepe is open daily 11 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m. at Whalers Village, 2435 Kaanapali Parkway, Suite H-19, Lahaina. For more, visit viabysalepepe.com or call (808) 214-5086.
According to the Maui Emergency Management Agency, a wildfire risk reduction project to remove hazardous wildfire …
Dining and Cooking