Culinary Arts Schools in Hawaii
All the way from the Big Island to Kauai and to Maui, culinary schools in Hawaii can help you learn about the islands' multi-ethnic culinary traditions and gain knowledge of their diverse and delicious foods. Every chef -- and culinary student -- in Hawaii can take advantage of nature's bounty, such as cattle raised on the pastures of Hawaii's Big Island. The fertile soils in Upcountry Maui supply the islands with many culinary treasures, including citrus, vegetables and sweet Maui onions. Some of the highest-quality fish in the Pacific is caught daily off the coasts of the Hawaiian islands. In fact, Hawaii Regional Cuisine, which blends Hawaii's ethnic flavors with other cuisines in innovative ways, was created by 12 Hawaii chefs, including Philippe Padovani and Peter Merriman. The islands feature plenty of high-end restaurants, but there are also many good burger joints, affordable hole-in-the-wall ethnic restaurants, and plenty of casual bars with tropical drinks served in a pineapple. In fact, Masaharu Morimoto, a star of the program "Iron Chef America," recently opened his first Hawaii restaurant in Waikiki.
Cooking in Paradise: Attend a Hawaii Culinary School
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, successful head cooks and chefs working in Hawaii earned a mean annual wage of $52,700 in 2011. Restaurant positions represent 13 percent of Hawaiian jobs, as reported by the National Restaurant Association. Visitors and locals can delight their taste buds at the more than 3,000 eating and dining places on the islands. You don't necessarily need a degree in the culinary arts to become a great chef, but formal training could give you an advantage over others eager to make a start. Have a look at the list of Hawaii culinary schools we have listed below and get ready to sharpen your knives for a culinary experience in paradise.
Additional Resources for Hawaii Culinary Students
University of Hawaii compiles Hawaii regional recipes
Hawaii Tourism highlights chefs and restaurants serving Hawaii Regional Cuisine
Bureau of Labor Statistics information on chef and head cook careers
Browse Hawaii Culinary and Cooking Schools!
This list also contains online schools that accept students from Hawaii.
Set your career in motion at Virginia College Online.
- Online
- AAS - Culinary and Pastry Arts
Advance your career with our affordable, self-paced, career-focused distance education programs.
- Online
- Hotel/Restaurant Management
- Caterer
Earn Your Diploma from Home!
- Online
- Cooking and Catering
Kaplan University is focused on recognizing the achievements of military and veteran students and offers the flexibility of an online education.
- Online
- AAS in Business Administration - Hospitality Management
Your creativity is a big part of who you are and where you’re going. To take it, and your future, as far as you want, you need an education that’s focused on developing your talents and putting you on the path toward the creative career that stirs your imagination. A collaborative education at The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta, is all about the work, the students who create it, and the instructors who guide them.
The first step is to explore these areas of study, and think about where you fit in an industry that runs on ideas.
- Online
- Hotel & Restaurant Management (BS)
- Culinary Management (BS)
Earn your degree or diploma on your schedule and succeed at Ashworth College.
- Online
- Hotel/Restaurant Management
Find Culinary Schools in Hawaii by City
Other Hawaii Culinary Schools
| School Name | City or Town | Programs Offered |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Community College - Hilo Campus | Hilo | Food Services (AAS) |
| Hawaii Pacific University | Honolulu | Travel Industry Management |
| Heald College School of Business and Technology | Honolulu | Hospitality and Tourism |
| Kapiolani Community College | Honolulu | Culinary Arts |
| Travel Institute of the Pacific | Honolulu | Culinary Arts/Chef Training |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | Honolulu | Hospitality Services Management |
| Maui Culinary Academy | Kahului | Culinary Arts |
| University of Hawaii - Maui College | Kahului | Culinary Arts (AAS) |
| Hawaii Community College - Kona Campus | Kealakekua | Food Services (AAS) |
| Brigham Young University - Hawaii Campus | Laie | B.S. in Hospitality & Tourism Management |
| Kauai Community College | Lihue | Culinary Arts |
| Leeward Community College | Pearl City | Culinary Arts |