KAILUA-KONA — The Kona Kohala Chefs Association recognized six recent scholarship winners Saturday at the sold out “Christmas with the Chefs” gala on the grounds of Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.
Recipients are all local culinary students who are continuing their education at Hawaii Community College-Palamanui.
The six students are Trinity Tavares, Exon Pimentero, Nina Stuart, Minnie Pira, Shanley Tabios and Mallory Javillonar.
The annual event has two goals to further West Hawaii’s culinary industry.
First, it raises funds for scholarships for culinary students attending HCC-Palamanui and local high schoolers wishing to enter culinary school for the first time.
Second, the event’s silent auction is a benefit for the HCC-Palamanui culinary program through the ACF Kona Kohala Chefs and Jean Hull Endowment fund. The fund, set up in 2015, finances guest speakers, travel to student competitions and purchases of the latest culinary equipment and supplies for students.
Continuing culinary students can apply for spring semester Kona Kohala Chefs scholarships through Dec. 31 at www.konakohalachefs.org.
To date, Christmas with the Chefs has awarded about $900,000.
Kona Kohala Chefs Association is a chapter of the American Culinary Federation, which is the largest, professional, nonprofit organization for chefs and cooks in the nation. Founded in 1980, the Kona Kohala chapter is comprised of food service professionals, vendors, growers and culinary enthusiasts.
Visit www.konakohalachefs.org for more information.