Hawai‘i Tourism Authority provides 32 culinary scholarships

13.07.2024 - 05:00 / traveldailynews.com / Theodore Koumelis

Culinary Institute of the Pacific and Culinary Institute of America launch a joint program in Hawai‘i, focusing on local ingredients and advanced culinary techniques.

The Culinary Institute of the Pacific (CIP) at Kapi‘olani Community College and Culinary Institute of America (CIA), the world’s premier culinary college, have launched a joint workforce and professional development program set to begin this fall on O‘ahu. The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) is honored to support this meaningful collaboration and esteemed partnership as part of our emphasis on strengthening workforce development and kama‘āina leadership within Hawai‘i’s diverse visitor industry. HTA is providing $48,000 in scholarships to support the professional development of 32 Hawai‘i chefs through this specialized career pathway program.

Designed to elevate the skills of both professional chefs and those aspiring to join the food service and hospitality workforce in Hawai‘i, the program offers five-day culinary intensives that highlight the use of Hawai‘i-sourced ingredients in global cuisines, plant-forward cooking, and contemporary culinary techniques, beginning with ʻĀina-Based Mediterranean Cooking and Pacific Rim Plant Forward Cooking this fall. Taught by distinguished CIA instructors, participants will receive a certificate of completion from both CIA and CIP, complete with continuing education hours and a digital badge.

Certification through this program and from these two renowned entities will bring recognition and elevate the skills of Hawai‘i’s kama‘āina chefs, while developing leadership and innovation in Hawai‘i’s vibrant culinary scene. It also spotlights our islands’ agriculture industry and sustainable food systems, altogether enriching the visitor experience and boosting Hawai‘i’s competitive advantage against other destinations.

The programs at the Culinary Institute of the Pacific (CIP) at Kapiʻolani Community College planted its roots in 1946, then known as the “Hotel and Restaurant” program, under the Territorial Department of Public Instruction located at the Palama Settlement facilities. Since then, the program has moved from the Ala Wai Clubhouse to the Pensacola Campus to where it currently stands along the slopes of Lē‘ahi. The program has recently expanded its footprint to include the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head where two state-of-the-art culinary laboratories have been built and will soon be home to three prized facility additions: a Tasting Studio, the Food Creativity Center, and the highly anticipated CIP restaurant. The CIP program prides itself as a conduit for supporting the State of Hawai‘i’s culinary industry through a multitude of educational avenues, both short and long