Maui Potato Chip Factory

REALLY good potato chips! My dad loves these we looked all over the island for them. He’s been a fan since the 1970’s. They weren’t at Safeway, or Foodland, or the ABC store… But you can get them here (they are open until 4pm on weekdays) or at Times. I think you can also find them at Longs and a few other local places.

Not what we were expecting… chips were a little greasy and the bag said do not expose to sunshine, I’m not sure what that means. It’s not like a tour, it’s just a place to buy these chips. I would not recommend you go out of your way.

Kitchn Cookd Maui Chips are by far the best on the planet Earth, if not this part of the galaxy.
They are thick and tasty, and I do adore the warning on the clear cellophane bag, «DO NOT EXPOSE TO SUNSHINE»… I’ve been told by locals that they may catch fire… nice and greasy! Gotta Love ‘em.
Unfortunately i couldn’t find them in Ewa Beach… So, when in Lahaina, i’m going to need to stock up… they aren’t available on the mainland.

My mom found this place in her travel book in Japanese and wanted to stop by before we left Maui. The store is a big warehouse with rather a small sign. The inside is bit dark so it looks like not open but don’t be afraid and just walk in.
My mom bought a bunch of small bags and also bought a box to put the bags inside so they won’t break on a flight.
I gave to two of my friends and they both loved it. One of them doesn’t even like potato chips but he said it wasn’t like other regular chips.
To me personally, the chips were a bit hard and bland (in a way you can taste the real potato). But it all comes down to individual preference and I have no doubt the chips are very fresh.

As a kid, I grew up eating these chips and just recently I found out they have a warehouse for purchasing them! I didn’t realize how valuable they’ve become. The higher price is worth it for this now luxury chip. All natural and salty. Yum! I bought 5 medium bags and 3 small bags (some for me and some to give as omiyage). Of course I ripped open a bag to «sample» to make sure it was okay. Just as crispy as I remember them! Cash or check only so come prepared!

This is one of our first and last stops on Maui. The original and still the best «Maui chip» there is.
It isn’t exactly some amazing tour or anything like that, just a quick stop to get the best potato chips imaginable. These were «kettle chips» before kettle chips existed.

These are thick, crunchy and oily potato chips without preservatives. They are fantastic. The factory shows how hard work can produce a great product although not much of a place to visit. It’s a place to buy these fantastic chips.

Chips are good, but a large bag is $ 12! A medium sized bag, which we decided to purchase, was $ 5.25. Small bags were around $ 2. The chips were good and fresh, but the building was a bit sketchy (on a good day). Its worth a stop if you really enjoy potato chips, but with the high prices — I’d call this place average at best.

My review is not based on their product, it’s simply based on their location and employees.
My husband and I were all excited to check out their factory and maybe see the production line going! When we walked in it was a ghost town, and the woman that «worked» there (I use that word loosely), was not really happy to answer questions about the chips and their production and actually laughed at us when we asked her what days they made the chips, as if we mainlanders were supposed to be in the loop about this!
So instead of buying from them, we simply went to Longs and bought a bag! They were pretty much amazing, and its really a bummer that the experience at the factory didn’t compare with the chips!
I would say don’t waste your time unless you just want to buy the chips in bulk, and you don’t have any questions to ask them!

My friend REALLY wanted to get these chips to bring back home. They are REALLY expensive individually in the grocery store… so he made a phone call to the factory and we stopped by on our last day in Maui.
He ended up buying a box of 6 for $ 30 I believe… plus a single bag (not sure of the cost). There are a few stalls located in front of the building (the building exterior is pretty run down)…
The inside is pretty basic (you can see the factory set up behind the counter which is cool) and in addition to chips they sell t-​shirts, tank tops, and other souvenir items.
Staff was friendly! The chips are pretty good!

Great chips, but this isn’t a five star experience. It’s a little place where they make their own chips. Probably the best chips ever, but not by much. This is overrated as a destination.
It’s a good chance to support a local entrepreneur, but beyond that it’s a small space with a old counter, a couple employees, and a chip making machine in the back of the room.

I travel to maui once a year and always purchase these chips I have been eating these since 1976 and they have not changed

Awesome chips! Just have to know where the factory is and get there while they’re open. Cheaper to buy the chips from their factory than from retail stores and the chips are mostly uhbroken from the factory. Worth the $ 3.50 to get a sturdy carry-​on box to protect the chips in transit. But, of course, that’s one of the two allowed carry-​on bags.

The original Maui Potato Chip. Great chip! If you are in Maui it is well worth making a side trip and picking up a bag of chips.

Believe it or not, try these chips with Vanilla Ice Cream (see photos). Ono! The owner Mark Kobayashi suggested I try that and sure enough, they really go well together!
Just as an FYI, the name «Kitch’n Cook’d» was the trade name given by a turn-​key franchise originally started by a businessman from Springfield, Ohio way back when. This franchise operation provided the potato chip manufacturing equipment, cooking process, and most importantly the «Kitch’n Cook’d» signature logo that we still see the packaging labeled with to this day.
This explains why you see the same Kitch’n Cook’d label on potato chips produced by the Kona Potato Chips company, as well as one operating out of Virginia. These are all independent, non-​affiliated Kitch’n Cook’d franchisees.
As for the «DO NOT EXPOSE TO SUNSHINE» disclaimer loudly emblazoned across the top band of the bag, according to Mark, the reasoning behind that is that the heat and UV rays will cause the chips to go soft (taste stale) due to the cottonseed oil content and lack of chemical preservatives (a good thing!).
Kitch’n Cook’d Maui Potato Chips are available in 1 oz. ($ 1.00 factory outlet price) and 4.5 oz. ($ 4.50 factory outlet price) bag sizes. A 10 oz. bag ($ 10) is also available by special order direct from the factory. Retail stores on Maui who currently carry it include Long’s, Star Market, Foodland, Safeway, Ah Fook’s, ABC Stores and even Tasaka Guri Guri. Retail store prices are higher. Call for more information.

Kitch’n Cook’d chips, to me, define potato chips. I don’t know if it’s old grease, sea salt, special potatos grown on the slopes of Haleakala, or what, but these things are addictive like few other earthly pleasures are… crack comes to mind. I’m going to order myself a bag right now.