Hawaii culinary schools

Many are familiar with Hawaii as a tourist destination but for others, Hawaii culinary schools are some of the best places to get a career as a professional chef on track. It’s easy to see why the state would be regarded as one of the top locations of study for culinary students. Local cuisine is unusual and usually boasts Asian and island flavours that cannot be found anywhere else in the country. There is a hoard of tourists flying into the state every day which means there are plenty of eager mouths to feed looking for a unique culinary experience. If you guarantee a quality education in one of the best culinary schools, submerge yourself in the culture and get involved in industry organisations, you might just be the next big chef to come out of the sunny state.

The programs offered are as diverse as the flavours themselves. You can study for:

• An Associate degree in Culinary Arts
• Associate degree in Restaurant management and supervision
• Associate degree in Baking and Pastry
• Certificate in Culinary Arts
• Hotel management
• Hospitality management
• Certificate in Food Preparation

This is not a complete list of certificates and degrees and you should make a conscious effort to consult with course administrators at different schools for a better understanding of your options. Qualifications can be obtained from universities, community colleges, technical institutions and culinary institutes.

These are some of the Hawaii culinary schools you can use to narrow down your search:

Maui Culinary Academy comes up at the top of the list when it comes to cooking institutions because the training offered is much specialised and it provides the best practical experience in the state.

Gros Bonnet Culinary Arts Academy is one of the oldest and most respected training organisations for chefs. Apart from quality education, it also gives students plenty of career support after graduation and is situated in a region of Hawaii that attracted many tourists.

Hawaii Community College values practical training but also puts adequate emphasis on the theoretical part of the industry

One program renowned for its apprenticeship program is Kapiolani Community College. It is an accredited institution with international ties and offers students the opportunity to earn a small living while training

Leeward Community College is also a great option for wanna-be chefs looking for excellent education and kitchen training.

One of the simplest ways to land a job after qualifying is to become a familiar in Hawaii’s annual festivals. The Hawaii Lodging, Hospitality and Food Service Expo as well as the Kapalua Wine and Food festivals are just two of the best places to network with chefs who have made a name for themselves in the local industry. New pastry chefs can also take advantage of the Hawaiian Chocolate and Kona Chocolate festivals to display creativity in confectionery and to learn the preferences of tourists and local customers. Join the Maui Chef’s Association and Restaurant Association to learn about these events and other opportunities.