Promotion: Hawaii Restaurant Association's 7th Annual Hall of Fame

The Hawaii Restaurant Association (HRA) is a nonprofit trade organization, representing the state’s restaurants, food service businesses, and hospitality and tourism industries. This industry is the cornerstone of Hawaii’s economy, with more than 3,500 locations directly employing more than 82,000 people.

Since 2007, the HRA has honored Hawaii’s food industry pioneers with an annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Restaurants come and go, especially in tourism-based economies like Hawaii. But there are Island institutions and landmarks that left an indelible mark on Hawaii’s culinary scene and in the minds—and stomachs—of their loyal patrons.

This year the eight Hall of Fame inductees, from one of the oldest tofu shops in the country to an award-winning TV veteran, have, in their own way, influenced the way we think and feel about food in the Islands.

Contents

A rejected bus boy, a college student working at McDonald’s and a pig farmer in Hilo all grew up to become standouts in our dining scene. Meet this year’s inductees into the Hawaii Restaurant Association’s restaurant and food industry’s Hall of Fame.

By Catherine E. Toth

Through a scholarship program, the Hawaii Restaurant Association makes it possible for hardworking students to work toward their goals of becoming chefs and food service professionals.

The 11 men and women of the HRA Hall of Fame selection committee had no small task choosing this year’s honorees. Meet the members.

Meet the distinguished Island chefs who will be cooking at this year’s Hawaii Restaurant Association Annual Hall of Fame gala.

This article appears in the October 2013 issue of HONOLULU Magazine.