Maui chef Rodger James Shortell Jr., better known as Chef Raja, is a contender in the latest episode of Food Network’s "Extreme Chef," airing at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The show features three chefs per episode vying for a $10,000 prize. The competition takes them out of the kitchen and places them in situations that require physical and mental prowess.

Shortell, a personal chef, and his fellow competitors must jump off a boat and swim to a deserted island, where they use a treasure map to locate some of their food, then build their own work stations on the beach.

"I had a blast," says the Maui-born chef, who was drawn to the show for its extreme angle. "I love surfing and cliff jumping, so I loved that it took me out of my comfort zone."

For more on Shortell, visit feastonthebeach.com.