$245K gift to support Hawaii Community College — Palamanui culinary arts program

The largest endowment in Hawaii Community College history is headed to Kona to support culinary arts at the soon-to-open Hawaii Community College — Palamanui campus.

The American Culinary Federation Kona Kohala Chefs Association of Kailua-Kona recently donated $245,000 to establish the ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association & Jean Hull, CCE, AAC Culinary Endowment. The fund, according to the University of Hawaii Foundation, will support the culinary arts program at the community college, which is slated to open this fall.

“This generous endowment will ensure that we can acquire and maintain the state-of-the-art kitchen equipment necessary to provide a first class educational experience for our culinary students,” said Martin Fletcher, director of Hawaii Community College — Palamanui. “In addition, this endowment will also help finance culinary competitions, visiting guest chefs, special events and more, making dreams come true for many of our students and faculty.”

The foundation, in a press release, said the endowment is the largest of its kind for Hawaii Community College in its more than 50 year history.

“We are most grateful to the ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association for their vision and generosity” said Donna Vuchinich, UH Foundation president and CEO. “Through active partnerships like this, the University of Hawaii can provide the innovative programming and state-of-the-art learning environments necessary to prepare the culinary leaders of tomorrow. These students will play a key role in ensuring that Hawaii has the culinary and hospitality professionals it needs to be a visitor destination of choice in the years ahead.”

Fundraising for the culinary program gained momentum when the college’s former culinary program associate professor Jean Hull, who is a board member of ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association, and Jim Lightner, director of hospitality at Hawaii Community College’s West Hawaii campus in Kealakekua, joined forces and organized the “Equip the Kitchens Campaign at Palamanui.” The campaign raised $100,000 of the $245,000.

“We are immensely grateful to the West Hawaii culinary industry, chefs, residents and ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association members. Thanks to their support and generosity we were able to make this major philanthropic investment,” said Hull. “This gift represents the cumulative impact of 26 years of community support and proceeds from fundraising holiday events dating back to when we hosted our celebration at the Hulihee Palace to the recent event at the Courtyard King Kamehameha Beach Hotel.”

The American Culinary Federation Kona Kohala Chefs Association members are industry leaders committed to enriching the culinary sector through professional development and educational opportunities. The Kona Kohala Chefs Association has more than 50 chapter members, in addition to college and high school student culinarians.

“Having the best equipment, facilities and instructors for culinary students is paramount to producing outstanding chefs and our culinary leaders of tomorrow,” said Chef Clayton Arakawa, CEC, CCA president of the ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association and executive chef of the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows. “I can say that just about every hotel and restaurant on the Big Island of Hawaii has at least one or more culinary graduates from Hawaii Community College. Our visitors and residents are enjoying the kind of culinary experiences that set this island and state apart both nationally and internationally. We are thrilled that our gift will support the needs of the culinary program at the Palamanui campus in perpetuity.”

Those interested in learning how they can support the students and programs at Hawaii Community College should contact KC Collins at kc.collins@uhfoundation.org or 956-3458. Donations can also be made online at www.uhfoundation.org/givetohawaiicc.