Hawai‘i DOH Reopens Jade Palace 2 After Red Placard; Staff, Owner Must Remediate

The Hawai‘i Department of Health has authorized reopening of Jade Palace 2 in Kailua‑Kona after shutting the restaurant and issuing a red placard for multiple critical violations found during a routine inspection. The establishment is operated by Minh Tuan Tran and was ordered closed after inspectors documented "an abundant amount of live and dead cockroaches throughout the facility including in food and on food‑contact surfaces."

DOH records show the red "closed" placard was issued following the routine inspection on Feb. 19. Department guidance notes that an establishment "must remain closed until a follow-up inspection is conducted and all critical violations have been resolved," and local reports say DOH required corrective actions before reopening could be considered.

A follow-up inspection conducted on Feb. 24 resulted in DOH authorizing a green "pass" placard. The official release states, "The DOH authorized the reopening of Jade Palace 2, issuing a green 'pass' placard during a follow‑up inspection on Feb. 24," and adds that "During the follow-up inspection, the DOH determined that all corrective actions had been completed." The Governor's office release carrying the DOH statement is dated Feb. 26, 2026 and bears release number 26‑018; the release header names Governor Josh Green, M.D., and DOH Director Kenneth S. Fink, M.D., MGA, MPH.

Sources differ on the exact street number for the restaurant. Local outlets list the address as 75‑5595 Palani Road in Kailua‑Kona, while the DOH press release shows 575‑5595 Palani Road. The operator is consistently identified as Minh Tuan Tran across DOH and local reports.

The DOH press release and news accounts repeat the standard line, "The DOH required the food establishment to take the following corrective actions:" but the specific itemized corrective‑action list was not included in the published excerpts. DOH and local coverage state the department determined those corrective measures had been completed at the Feb. 24 follow‑up, but inspection reports with the detailed violations and the corrective‑action documentation were not attached to the public notices cited.

Jade Palace 2 has a prior public closure: Big Island Video News reported the same restaurant was closed by health officials in May 2025 for "an active cockroach infestation" and other issues and was allowed to reopen the next day after passing a follow‑up inspection. The DOH Food Safety Branch continues to conduct routine health inspections of food establishments statewide and posts placard and inspection information on its Food Safety Branch inspections site.

For language or accessibility services related to HDOH programs and public meetings, the department lists the nondiscrimination coordinator phone number as (808) 586‑4400. DOH releases advise visiting the Food Safety Branch inspections pages for the official placard status and inspection records.