In the kitchen with top chefs!

Hāna youth participate in Hāna Kū through our Kahu ʻai Pono program

Students in the kitchen with Chef Kyle

Our youth's ʻāina-fresh food and culinary skills were on showcase at a weekend-long celebration and fundraiser held in late August, known as Hāna Kū. 

This year, Hāna Kū included an archery tournament and screening of the Hawaiian Soul film. Youth apprentices (some as young as 14) cooked alongside Hawaiʻi's celebrity chefs. They prepped all the food for three meals over the weekend, using our Mahele Farm and campus-grown foods. 

Our youth were proud to share their skills with local ʻohana and even more excited to be learning from skilled chefs who they've watched on TV. They were smitten that these chefs were teaching them, and simultaneously seeking tips from their program mentor! 

Our youth shed their typical timid nature, and it was such a motivating experience that they chose to stay on late into the night. 

Our Kahu ʻAi Pono mentor was told, "Thank you so much for picking me [to participate], the culinary world opened up in front of my eyes. It's hard work but I had so much fun!" 

The grandmother of another reached out to express her gratitude, "Mahalo, Mahalo, Mahalo! This boy so NEEDED to be involved in something like this. Working in culinary is his dream." 

One trainee exalted, "Aunty, I can't believe I learned how to make aioli [from a Top Chef]!" While another was getting fielding advice on how to successfully startup his own food business. 

The guest chefs shared again and again how impressed they were by our youth's hardwork and skills.

Mahalo nui to Ala Kukui, kumu Babette (the Kahu ʻAi Pono program lead), chefs Mark and Kyle, and the students and parents for showing up and cultivating an environment where growth, sharing, service, and fun thrives.

Mahalo nui iā kākou