Culinary Arts
Discover the joy of cooking, culture, and community.
What We Offer
Our culinary arts programs offer you a unique opportunity to connect with food, culture, and community. From cooking camps and afterschool clubs to career-focused training, you’ll gain practical skills and a deeper understanding of Hawaiʻi’s food traditions and systems.
ʻAina Momona – Hawaiʻi Food Systems
Explore aquaponics, worm composting, gardening, agroforestry, and regenerative and urban agriculture. Ages 12-17.
Nā Mea ʻOno: Summer Culinary Explorations
Explore Hawaiian and local food traditions while learning how food connects ʻāina, ʻohana, and community. Ages 14-17.
Culinary Arts Team
Mahana Akina
Director, Culinary and ʻĀina
Mahana Akina
Director, Culinary and ʻĀina
Koryn Mahana Akina, Director of Culinary and ʻĀina at the Liliʻuokalani Center, is a Hilo native who brings over 30 years of experience in the culinary arts, education, and leadership. Her career reflects a deep-rooted passion for food as a vehicle for cultural preservation, community wellness, and youth empowerment.
Her background includes teaching culinary arts within the University of Hawaiʻi Community College system, serving as Director of Nutritional Services for one of Hawaiʻi’s largest skilled nursing facilities, and working across a wide range of culinary environments from fine dining to beloved local favorites. At the heart of her work is a deep commitment to mālama ʻāina, wellness, and empowering ʻōpio through food, with the goal of nourishing both body and community with intention and aloha.
Wenona Kei Shmull
Culinary Educator
Wenona Kei Shmull
Culinary Educator
Wenona Kei is a Culinary Educator at the Liliʻuokalani Center. She develops and facilitates cooking programs that celebrate Hawaiian and Pacific foods while building kamaliʻi skills, confidence, and connection in the kitchen.
She brings a decade of experience spanning culinary arts, school food systems, and nonprofit management. Her career began in restaurants and continued with FoodCorps in California, where she taught food education in elementary schools. She later moved into program management, supporting food educators nationwide through training, advocacy, and community-building.
Wenona is committed to growing the next generation of Pacific food systems leaders who connect food, identity, and community well-being.
Ikaika Molina
Youth Engagement Specialist – Culinary
Ikaika Molina
Youth Engagement Specialist – Culinary
Ikaika Molina is the Culinary Youth Engagement Specialist for Liliʻuokalani Trust based out of the Liliʻuokalani Center.
Connect with us
Ready to join our community and discover your passions? We can’t wait to meet you!