Health inspectors shut down Black Rock Pizza’s Kona location this week after finding what they describe as an active rodent infestation and unsanitary conditions in the popular waterfront hangout. A red "closed" placard went up on July 8 at the shop at 75‑5813 Aliʻi Drive in downtown Kailua‑Kona, blocking the restaurant from serving customers until the problems are fixed and a follow‑up inspection clears the kitchen.
What inspectors found
According to the Hawai‘i Department of Health, a routine July 8 inspection turned up "an abundant amount of fresh and old rodent feces" throughout the facility, including in food and on food‑contact surfaces. Inspectors also reported food that was not stored to prevent contamination, an obstructed handwashing sink, and physical facilities that were not being properly maintained or cleaned.
Where the shop is and who runs it
Black Rock Pizza’s Kona outpost sits in the Coconut Grove Marketplace along Aliʻi Drive, and an online ordering page lists the address as 75‑5813 Aliʻi Drive. Public business listings show the menu and hours, indicating the shop operates locally as part of the broader Black Rock Pizza brand.
What the shop must do to reopen
Inspectors ordered a checklist of fixes before any reopening can happen. Per the Hawai‘i Department of Health, the restaurant has to discard all contaminated food, bring in a professional pest‑control operator and submit that service report to the department, seal holes in walls and ceilings, and thoroughly clean and disinfect both food‑contact and non‑food‑contact surfaces. The shop must stay closed until a follow‑up inspection verifies that all critical violations are corrected. Residents can track the inspection status through the state’s portal at My Health Department or call the DOH info line at 808‑586‑4400.
Part of a larger enforcement pattern
The Kona closure adds to a string of red‑placard actions on the Big Island this year, including a February shutdown at Jade Palace 2, highlighted in roaches rule as Kailua-Kona's Jade Palace 2 gets red-tag again. Local reporting and inspection logs have tracked several similar cases and follow‑up inspections across the island, according to Big Island Now.
Customers worried about food purchased recently from the Kona location can contact the DOH Food Safety Branch info line at 808‑586‑4400 or check the inspection portal for updates. We will report any changes after a DOH follow‑up inspection or public notice.
