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We hope you've been following along -- and have had the opportunity to enjoy lunch -- as our Pa'ina Market has evolved over the last couple of years. It is becoming the kind of community "gathering place" we always envisioned and hoped it would be. We are so proud of our nationally recognized Culinary Arts program, the dedicated faculty and staff and our students. Many of our graduates have moved into rewarding careers in the culinary industry. And there's a good chance you may have encountered one or more of them at restaurants and resorts all around Maui Nui and further afield, as well.
Working in a restaurant, even at a level as high as an executive chef, is not necessarily the path every culinary arts student chooses or aspires to. Catering is sometimes a better fit and so we are currently revamping that component and making it a more integral part of the overall program. We are fortunate and very happy to have Chef Taylor Ponte working with us to design and standardize our catering menus and to set up the systems to make the operation run smoothly and, most important, to give our students hands-on experience in all aspects of catering.
A native of Pi'iholo -- "the ag section of Makawao" as he describes it -- Ponte has a deep appreciation for the land, livestock and local produce amid which he grew up. And even though he says that college was never an option for him, he is a graduate of our Culinary Arts program.
"I heard the school was really good and affordable for Hawai'i residents. I had worked for some pretty big-name chefs and I saw the gap between those who went to culinary school and those who didn't," explained Ponte.
He enrolled in 2012. But he still didn't see himself as a "chef" until he met Chef Craig Omori, who has been an instructor in our Culinary Arts program for almost 13 years and took over as program coordinator in fall 2021. Ponte was inspired and he did, indeed, become a "chef" -- and an executive sous chef, chef de cuisine and executive chef, all at The Mill House restaurant. In 2020, he was voted by his peers as Maui No Ka 'Oi magazine's "Chef of the Year," the youngest winner of that award ever.
Working alongside Ponte on our catering refresh is his partner Natasha Joslin. Also born and raised in Makawao and also a veteran of the culinary industry, Joslin has always been ambitious. She graduated from high school at 17 and after college in California she did an internship at a beverage catering company and found her niche -- events. She moved home in 2015 and started work as the service manager at The Mill House where she and Ponte joined forces. She also did events and sales for all of Maui Tropical Plantation.
Like so many in the industry, they were laid off during the pandemic.
"We tried so hard to keep the business going," said Joslin.
After having organized and executed about 65 Chef's Table events at The Mill House, they knew they "could do this."
"People were so desperate to get together, we launched some pop-ups and private dining experiences," explained Joslin.
Now that their business is established, Ponte and Joslin are ready to devote time to our program.
"This school and the community that was created for him is very important to him," said Joslin. "He wants to make sure every student coming through here has the same opportunities he had."
We're betting that all Ponte's and Joslin's catering and event experience and expertise are just what our students need right now.
"We also want to be sure that the community -- especially those who have used our catering services in the past -- know that our Pa'ina facility is more like a community center than a full-service catering department you'd find at a hotel," Omori said. "It's a community space where our students prepare and serve great food."
For complete information about catering and/or using our Pa'ina facilities for your event, please visit our catering menu at drive.google.com/file/d/1pytLvONoq6dsqP89H7bV32LEZ8OT0_Xq/view.
For complete information about our award-winning Culinary Arts program, please visit maui.hawaii.edu/programs/culn/.
For complete college information, please visit maui.hawaii.edu/.
* Dr. Lui K. Hokoana is chancellor of the University of Hawai'i Maui College. Ka'ana Mana'o, which means "sharing thoughts," appears on the fourth Sunday of each month. It is prepared with assistance from UH-Maui College staff and is intended to provide the community of Maui County information about opportunities available through the college at its Kahului campus and its education centers.