Operators tend to get very busy during the holiday season with buyouts or private room bookings for company parties — but what about us? The Hawai‘i Restaurant Association thought we’d ask some members what they do for their employees at this time of year. Burgers on Bishop, owned and operated by Liz Hata-Watanabe, is new,…
The Hawaii Restaurant Association’s 12th Annual Hall of Fame Induction & Chefs of Aloha Dine Around was held on Monday, November 19th at the Sheraton Waikiki. The HRA Hall of Fame celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding restaurateurs and chefs who have made lasting, substantial and distinctive contributions to the restaurant and food service industry in Hawaii. These contributions demonstrate…
The Hawaii Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (HRAEF), through its high school culinary program ProStart, continues to work with high school students throughout the state. We have many projects underway at the moment, including the creation of multiple social media platforms which will highlight the students and instructors who are taking part in the program and…
Low unemployment rates in Hawaii have affected recruiting strategies. Compared to a few years ago, it’s a candidate driven job market where finding the right talent with in-demand skills has become harder, more expensive and time-consuming. With candidates holding so much more of the power, successful employers are switching their recruiting strategies to focus on…
Through a federal grant, the Culinary Institute of the Pacific via the Kapi’olani Community College Culinary Department, is able to offer a FREE State Cook Certificate program to anyone who’s working as a cook (prep, line, sous, exec, etc) at any food-service establishment on Oahu. This program, known as the Hawaii Cook Apprentice Program, is…
Kitchens are hot, and workers need to drink a beverage during work to stay hydrated. There are proper and incorrect ways of having a beverage while at work. As with all safety steps, the goal is to prevent the potential for contamination of foods and surfaces. If using a screwtop bottle or flask, there is…
While the holiday season can be the happiest time of the year, it is also a time when emergency rooms get a lot of traffic. With so many people coming together and lots of decorating and cooking going on, it is common for viruses and other minor illnesses to show up, along with burns and…
In our 45 years of operations in Hawai‘i I have never seen a greater assault on the restaurant industry than at the present time. Our Industry and Hawai‘i’s Economy The industry is a major contributor to the state’s economy. Hawai‘i’s restaurant and foodservice operators account for over 96,000 jobs, which represent 15 percent of all…
Exciting News! The Hawaii Restaurant Association is thrilled to announce that it’s Educational Foundation has been approved for 501(c)(3) non-profit status! The Hawaii Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (HRAEF) will serve our community by offering job-training and readiness throughout all of Hawaii to people of all ages. The Foundation, along with the incredible support and dedication…
As we are now into the Holiday Season, here are my 12 Safe Food Days of Christmas. It would be naughty to not follow and review these with your team. 1 – Train/retrain/reinforce with all employee’s proper handwashing – Proper Handwashing is probably the best way to avoid spreading illness. 2 – Avoid cross contamination…