New restaurant developed in partnership with Sammy Hagar to open at Kahului Airport on August 13, 2008

The state Department of Transportation is pleased to announce a grand opening ceremony for the Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill restaurant at Maui's Kahului Airport on Wednesday, August 13, at 10:00 a.m.  Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill is the namesake of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Maui resident Sammy Hagar, former lead singer of the rock band Van Halen.

Developed in a partnership between HMSHost Corporation, food services operator at Hawai‘i airports, and Sammy Hagar, the new eatery will be a full-service restaurant that provides classic American fare with an island theme in a casual, beach-inspired atmosphere.

“The state and HMSHost are very excited to offer this dynamic new eatery to our Maui travelers,” said state Department of Transportation director Brennon Morioka. “We are very pleased by the creativity and dedication of HMSHost in providing Maui travelers with such a wide array of dining choices at Kahului Airport.”

One-hundred percent of Sammy Hagar’s profits from the restaurant chain will be donated to local Hawai‘i charities via the Red Rocker Foundation, an organization Hagar and his wife Kari are establishing to help support children’s organizations. 

New airport concession upgrades such as the addition of Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill are part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s $2.3 billion airports modernization plan. Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill will join food outlets already servicing Kahului Airport, including the Plantation Snack Bar, Stinger Ray’s Grill and Bar and Starbucks Coffee.  More eateries, including Jamba Juice, California Pizza Kitchen ASAP, and Burger King are being planned for next year.

Six new restaurants including Dewar’s Clubhouse, Gordon Biersch Restaurant Brewery and Kona Brewing Co. have opened at the Honolulu International Airport this year.

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