A special evening of exciting Pacific Rim cuisine and cocktails from Japengo and other Hyatt Maui Resort restaurants, live jazz, silent auction, and raffle prizes to benefit Visitor Industry Charity Walk.

Japengo Dining Room

To mark the opening of the resort’s new Pacific Rim Restaurant and Sushi Lounge, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spainvites local residents and resort guests to attend a special Japengo Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 22, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.  Opened just last month to rave reviews, the $5 million Japengo, part of the resort’s extensive $15 million renovation, is Maui’s much-anticipated, chic and sophisticated dining destination.  The festive evening will feature a sampling of dishes from Japengo’s sophisticated menu of Pacific Rim cuisine, as well as from the resort’s other fine restaurants, plus signature cocktails, live jazz, a silent auction, celebrity emcees, raffle prizes, and more.  A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to various Hawaii nonprofit organizations through the Visitor Industry Charity Walk held in May.

The Japengo Grand Opening Celebration begins at 6 p.m. with celeb-worthy arrival photos along Japengo’s striking entrance.  Guests will have an opportunity to explore Japengo’s distinctive settings – from the vibrant Sushi Lounge, to the edgy and exotic Moon Bar, to the dramatic outdoor dining space overlooking the resort’s 40-acre grounds, swimming pools and waterfall, and neighboring islands of Molokai and Lanai.  Features of the evening’s special celebrations include:

• Sampling of gourmet dishes – Signature modern Pacific Rim cuisine and creative sushi from Japengo’s menu, as well as a selection from among the resort’s other fine restaurants, including Son’z at Swan Court, Umalu, and Drums of the Pacific luau. Live action stations with featured dishes include: Town Chow Fun – with spicy pork, day boat scallops, crab, new Caledonia shrimp, oyster sauce, mushroom shoy
• Tropical Asian-inspired cocktails by Japengo’s talented mixologists, as well as Hyatt’s signature “Canvas” wines by Michael Mondavi
• Event emcees – Special guests Hawaii News Now’s Guy Hagi and his wife and former on-air personality Kim Gennaula
• Live jazz with Braddah Keoki Ruiz & friends, with special guests David Choy on saxophone and Kelly Covington on vocals
• Silent auction & raffle prizes
• Take-away gifts to return to Japengo

Japengo Sushi Lounge

Tickets are $95 per person and include two drink tickets.  A cash bar will be available for additional creative cocktails, beer, and wine.  A portion of proceeds from tickets sold will benefit the Visitor Industry Charity Walk.  To purchase tickets, contact Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa at 808.667.4727

Located within Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa at 200 Nohea Kai Drive on Ka’anapali Beach, Japengo is open for dinner Monday through Sunday, from 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.; lounge hours are 4:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.  For more information or reservations, contact Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa by phone at 808.661.1234 or visit the resort website: www.maui.hyatt.com.

Take the Elevator Home – Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa invites event guests to ‘take the elevator home’ with a special kamaaina event rate of $150/night, Jan. 21 & 22.  For details and reservations, contact the resort at 800.233.1234 and ask for the “Japengo rate” or visit www.maui.hyatt.com and enterG-JAPE in the Group/Corporate Field.