The state Department of Health is fining Waialua’s Paalaa Kai Bakery for allegedly selling food after it received a red “closed” placard for food safety violations. 

The Health Department said health inspectors issued a red placard and ordered the bakery closed on Oct. 6. But inspectors returned and confirmed allegations that the bakery opened on Oct. 7 and sold baked products. 

The Health Department is fining the bakery $12,000 for temperature violations leading to the posting of the red card and an additional $10,000 for the sale of the food products after the bakery was shut down, according to a news release. 

The suspension of the bakery’s food permit will continue until the violations are corrected and verified with another health inspection. 

Health Department Spokeswoman Janice Okubo said Paalaa Kai, located at 66-945 Kaukonahua Road, was issued a yellow card in July for violations of food temperature controls. “Part of the issue might be some of their aging equipment,” said Okubo of the bakery that first opened in 1970. 

Paalaa Kai Bakery’s red placard is the first red placard to be issued to a food establishment in Hawaii since implementation of the state’s color-coded food safety inspection program in July 2014. 

A green card indicates an establishment has passed inspection; a yellow it received a conditional pass; and a red triggers immediate closure due to a permit suspension. 

Paalaa Kai Bakery is known for their original snow puffies and other pastries. The snow puffies are custard-filled pastries topped with chocolate fudge swirls and powdered sugar.