High School Mentoring
What is the Hawaii Culinary Education Foundation (HCEF) Chef Mentoring program all about?
Hawaii Chefs serve as mentors and guides to High School Culinary programs, providing a valuable resource – influencing tomorrow’s culinary leaders. Chef mentors present real-world knowledge and experiences, coaching students on culinary/professional opportunities and requirements
What Mentors Do
Chef mentors provide overviews of the restaurant business, employment challenges, and the qualifications needed to become a chef
High School students hear directly from industry professionals exactly what education, work experiences, and skills they look for in bringing on new staff. Chef mentors develop interactive activities and culinary demonstrations to engage students in learning by doing such as: flavor development, knife skills, menu concepts / recipe development, culinary / farm tours, and visits to local restaurants and hotels
Educator Professional Development
Annual Educator Workshops and Master Classes
- 2015 — Chef Alan Wong: local ingredients, flavors, and palate development workshop.
- 2016 — Chef Sam Choy: Poke experience workshop.
- 2017 — Chef Jackie Lau: Educators’ workshop focused on plating and whole fish.
- 2018 — Chef Lee Anne Wong: fresh local flavors and classroom applications.
- 2019 — Armstrong Produce tour and visits to North Shore Farms.
- 2020 — Webinar on Food Safety in the COVID Conscious Classroom.
- 2021 — Chef Mark Noguchi.
- 2022 — Boston Chef Joanne Chang.
- 2023 — Chef Sheldon Simeon.
- 2024 — Chef Robynne Maii.
- 2025 — Chef Dan Swift, Baking, Desserts, and Sauces.
- 2026 — Chef Dan Swift, Baking, Desserts, and Sauces.
How to Get Involved
Who are the Chef Mentor Coordinators and How Can My High School Get Involved?
Hayley Matson-Mathes, Hawaii Culinary Education Foundation, hawaiiculinaryfoundation@gmail.com
Participating High Schools List
High Schools Participating in Hawaii Culinary Education Foundation (HCEF) Chef Mentoring
Big Island
- Konawaena
- Kealakehe
- Honokaa
- Hilo
- Waiakea
- Kea’au
- Pahoa
- Kohala
Maui
- Baldwin (x2 classes)
- King Kekaulike
- Lahaina Luna
- Maui High School
Kauai
- Kapaa
- Waimea
Oahu
- Aiea
- Campbell
- Castle
- Farrington
- Kahuku
- Kailua
- Kalaheo
- Kalani
- Kaimuki
- Kaiser
- Kapolei
- Leilehua
- Mililani
- McKinley
- Moanalua
- Nanakuli
- Olomanu
- Pearl City
- Radford
- Roosevelt
- Waialua
- Waianae
- Waipahu
THE STUDENTS OF THE CULINARY ARTS NEED YOU!
Contributions to the Foundation provide an incalculable benefit to culinary arts programs at UH Community Colleges, high schools and independent culinary schools.