Chairman’s Message

On Monday, September 19th, we held our 10th Annual Hall of Fame Gala Dinner, situated in the beautifully decked out Pomaika`i Ballrooms. It was great to see all the faces of the nearly 500 attendees who purchased seats and tables to support the event. The dinner was a great way to showcase the spirit of camaraderie within the restaurant industry, especially as a portion of the profits were donated to scholarships for community colleges and to support students in culinary programs. A big shout out and mahalo to Anne Lee and the events committee for executing this large-scale gala dinner, and the HRA staff for all their hours of hard work.

One of the highlights was seeing the Chefs of Aloha matched up with current culinary students, as it was an opportunity for these budding chefs to work hand in hand with some of the makers of shakers of our island’s industry. The chefs-in-training also got to see firsthand the excitement, joy, and appreciation on the faces of the restauranteurs and their families, something that is not always possible in a busy kitchen.The organization has been around since 1947 and it has only grown since then, both in members and in vision. All the members and board of directors are volunteers, spending not only their time and expertise, but also their company’s resources, such as donations of goods, services, products and cash. We’re an organization that’s only as good as its active participants, and this annual dinner, along with other events, showcase to the community, as well as ourselves, what can be done when we work together. Here’s to another decade of growth, education, and ho’okipa.