Kapiʻolani and Leeward Community College students earned top honors at the 13th annual culinary competition in April. The festival, held at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, showcased Hawaiʻi-grown cacao with 22 student competitors from , and . Teams created plated desserts judged on taste, texture, creativity and presentation.
First place and a $2,500 scholarship went to Kapiʻolani CC students Hawkins Ko and Chase Ignacio. Leeward CC students Rhiannah Ulit and Ralf Bartolome took second ($1,500), and Kapiʻolani CC students Eden Chung and Daniel Tada placed third ($1,000).
Collaboration across campuses
Kapiʻolani CC Chefs Sheylen Say and Daniel Wetter led collaborative efforts with other 东精影业 faculty and event sponsor .
“Chef Daniel Wetter and I have had a goal since last year to start an initiative in bringing and bridging the CC’s together,” Say said. “This is a beautiful beginning for that. The colleges spent the weekend together, students got to bond with each other, and we as instructors were able to start collaborating and supporting each other in our respective programs.”
King’s Hawaiian Innovation Pastry Chef Heather Campbell said, “Supporting Hawaiʻi culinary students is a mission we embrace at the King’s Hawaiian ʻohana. It’s an honor to contribute not only to our future culinarians, but also to support the journey of their faculty and supporters.”
Judges included acclaimed pastry chef Stéphane Tréand, Executive Pastry Chef Bruce Trouyet, and Chef Maria de los Milagros Miceli.
Say said, “This partnership brought together faculty, students, and industry leaders from across Hawaiʻi to create opportunities that strengthen our entire culinary community to prepare students for their future careers.”