Chef Michele Di Bari, owner of Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina in Lahaina and Via! by Sale Pepe in Kāʻanapali, was named a semifinalist in the prestigious 2026 James Beard Awards. Known as Maui’s only certified pizzaiolo, Chef Michele was recognized among 19 other semifinalists in the Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA) category.

A Lahaina restaurateur has been named a semifinalist for one of the culinary world’s most prestigious honors, marking a bright spot for the West Maui dining scene as it recovers from the 2023 wildfires.

Chef Michele Di Bari, owner of Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina in Lahaina and Via! by Sale Pepe in Kāʻanapali, was announced Thursday as a semifinalist for the 2026 James Beard Awards.

Nine Hawai‘i chefs and restaurants are among just over 500 nationwide who are in the running for the 2026 James Beard Awards. Those named as semifinalists in a press release this morning by the New York-based James Beard Foundation include four nominated for national awards and five for Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific. Five of the nine are first-time semifinalists for the leading culinary awards in the U.S.