Raw sewage in the kitchen and standing water tracked into the front service area were enough for state health inspectors to slap a red "closed" placard on U‑Choice Inn and order an immediate shutdown. The Kaheka Street eatery must remain dark until the mess is fixed and state inspectors sign off on the repairs.
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health’s Food Safety Branch runs the placarding program, which requires restaurants to correct imminent health hazards before anyone fires up the grill again. The branch carries out routine inspections and posts color‑coded placards so customers can see a restaurant’s status at a glance, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health.
What inspectors reported
In a post on X, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health said an inspector saw raw sewage backing up from a floor drain while the restaurant was operating, with employees walking through the standing water and tracking it into the front service area. The department identified the operator as Sino Mart Enterprise, Inc. and said the business must fix its plumbing and thoroughly clean and sanitize the entire floor before a follow‑up inspection can clear it to reopen, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health.
What happens next
DOH said a follow‑up inspection is set for Friday, Feb. 27. Until inspectors verify that the problems are corrected, the red placard stays up and the eatery is not allowed to resume food service. The Food Safety Branch can provide inspection reports and guidance on what corrective steps are needed, and its contact information and resources are listed on the agency’s Food Safety Branch page, according to Hawaiʻi Department of Health.
Past trouble at the same address
The 801 Kaheka block has drawn DOH attention before. Thai Taste Reopens after receiving a red placard in August 2024. That history underlines how quickly plumbing or sanitation failures can turn into an imminent health risk and trigger closures under state rules.
