HONOLULU(KHON2) — Kapiolani Community Colleges Culinary Arts Program kicks-off its fall semester soon with renewed vigor. Grant Itomitsu, the department chair, said the goal is to change the face of culinary education.
“A lot of the things we’re trying to do now is step out of the kitchen, onto the farms, going to different countries. Just last year we went to Barcelona. We took 10 students, including students from Leeward,” Itomitsu said. “We need them to be able to transition and pivot to their passion.”
According to Itomitsu, enrollment in the culinary arts program at KCC dipped after the pandemic but has remained fairly steady since.
Leeward Community Colleges culinary program saw a similar dip in 2020 enrollment and has also leveled off.
He said the goal is always to entice more people to embrace culinary arts.
World renowned Chef Roy Yamaguchi, executive director of KCC’s Culinary Institute of the Pacific (CIP) said their collaborating with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) elevates their game.