The Hawai‘i Restaurant Association is marking the 10th anniversary of its Hall of Fame inductions with a new group of honorees who have dedicated their professional lives to the growth, quality and image of Hawaii’s restaurant and food service industry.
More than one of this year’s honorees will be inducted posthumously.
HALL OF FAME HONOREES OAHU >> Mark Shishido, wine director, Alan Wong’s
>> John Morton, vice president, University of Hawaii Community Colleges
>> Edward Doty, Eagle Distributors/JMD Beverages/JND Owners
>> Alicia and Raymond Kam, founders of Alicia’s Market
>> Mel and Lynn Tanioka, founders of Tanioka’s Seafoods and Catering
>> David Nagaishi of Ocean House and Pounders at the Polynesian Cultural Center
>> Jacqueline Lau, private chef and caterer, longtime second-in-command at Roy’s Hawaii
KAUAI >> Bob and Christine French, owners, Brenneckes Beach Broiler
MAUI >> Aaron Placourakis, Sarentos at the Top of the Ilikai; Sarento’s on the Beach, Maui; Son’z Steakhouse; Nick’s Fishmarket, Maui
HAWAII ISLAND >> Debra Ching Maiava and Ric Maiava, owner-operators, Ken’s House of Pancakes
On the Net: >>
hawaiirestaurant.org.
David Nagaishi, late of Pounders at the Polynesian Cultural Center, died a year ago. He also ran the Ocean House and Shorebird restaurants at the Outrigger Reef Hotel, and Mariposa at Neiman Marcus, among other noteworthy Oahu restaurants, said event chairwoman Anne Lee.
The late Raymond and Alicia Kam, founders of Alicia’s Market at Mokauea and Democrat streets in Kalihi Kai, also will be honored at the Sept. 19 event, just weeks after the death of the market’s namesake.
Their son Leonard is “proud of what they have accomplished,” he said of the more-than-60-year-old business. “I’m just continuing what they did, what they built from scratch, from zero, with hard work.”
When Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, was preparing to open, pictures of several old Hawaii businesses were collected to display in the resort’s variety store. “We’re in one of them,” Kam said. The chosen photo shows “me and my mom in front of the store,” and he took her to see it. “She was happy,” he said.
“She also got to meet Andrew Zimmern” when he came to Hawaii in 2012 to shoot an episode of “Bizarre Foods” for the Travel Channel. The national attention had grown from local TV appearances that Leonard Kam credited to local television personalities Kathy Muneno and Tony Solis.
Alicia Kam died July 6, while her husband, Raymond, died in 2002.
Another pair of mom-and-pop favorites on Oahu, Mel and Lynn Tanioka, founders of Tanioka’s Seafoods and Catering, also are among the honorees. Their daughter Jasmine and son Justin run the business now.
“This being the 10th anniversary, we have some legacy honorees,” said event chairwoman Lee. These have contributed to the industry for generations, among them Aloha Shoyu, marking 70 years in business, and FCH Enterprises Inc., parent company of Zippy’s restaurants, celebrating its 50th anniversary, she said.
A popular part of the evening is the Dine Around, which this year will feature 13 chefs, including Roger Dikon, himself an inductee as a founding member of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement.
Private chef and caterer Jacqueline Lau, former corporate executive chef for Roy’s Hawaii, prepared food for the Dine Around in previous years. This year she is being inducted to the Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame gala is set for 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Dole Cannery’s Pomaika‘i Ballrooms. Tickets are $200.
