Chef Sascia Marchesi has returned to Donatoni's, the Italian restaurant at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, where he worked from 1997 to 2001. He's busy redesigning and replanting the herb garden he installed in 1988 along one of the waterways, growing basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme and tomatoes for his kitchen.

Other restaurant news: Hoku's at the Kahala Hotel and Resort, which is undergoing renovation that includes a new color scheme and furnishings, will reopen June 24. Mariposa has been closed for kitchen renovations but was to reopen today. Two other leading fine-dining restaurants, Alan Wong's Restaurant and Chef Mavro, completed renovations and have reopened with new decorative touches.

COMING SOON: NEW 'PLANTATION' GRILL AT ALOHA TOWER

Restaurateur Fred Livingston will open the Tower Grill, a new restaurant at Aloha Tower Marketplace, in September. The restaurant, occupying the second-floor space formerly housing the Big Island Steak House, will have a "Hawaiian plantation" atmosphere featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, a pastel color scheme and a lanai serving area.

Lunch and dinner — fresh Island fish, aged beef, salads and sandwiches — will be served, and there will be an on-site bakery that will create artisan breads and old-fashioned, American-style desserts. There'll be a full-service bar. Livingston owns Don Ho's Island Grill at the Marketplace and formerly operated Sunset Grill, Crouching Lion Inn, Trattoria Italian Restaurant, Davey Jones Ribs, the Tahitian Lanai and Matteo's Italian Restaurant.