Honolulu, HI – Today the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation (Takitani Foundation) donated an additional $2.5 million to the University of Hawai‘i’s Culinary Institute of the Pacific (CIP) at Diamond Head to support culinary education in the institute’s new and growing facility. This builds on their 2017 gift of $1.1 million, bringing their total support for construction and programs of the CIP to $3.6 million. In recognition of their generous support, the innovation center building at the CIP will be named the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Innovation Center.
University of Hawai‘i President David Lassner said, “This gift is helping create a unique world-class home for one of UH’s signature programs, the Culinary Institute of the Pacific (CIP). The CIP will change the lives of UH students from multiple campuses across the island, will help meet the workforce needs of our own hospitality community, and will be a shining beacon for Hawaiʻi’s leadership in culinary innovation and excellence. The full CIP vision is now becoming a reality thanks to the dedication and generous support of the state, community partners and donors like our friends at the Takitani Foundation, who have graced us again with their incredible generosity.”
Mamoru and Aiko Takitani, founders of Hawaiian Host, created the Takitani Foundation in 1993 to express their appreciation to the local community for its support of Hawaiian Host products. Since inception, the Takitani Foundation has provided scholarships to Hawaiʻi students who exemplify the qualities of hard work, high academic achievement, commitment to excellence, and community service, values that the Takitani’s lived by. The Takitani Foundation is dedicated to helping Hawai‘i’s students achieve their educational and career goals, and supporting educational initiatives that benefit them.
"Mamoru Takitani was a true innovator. He was the first person who envisioned combining delicious macadamia nuts with his original signature milk chocolate recipe to create what is recognized worldwide today as one of Hawai‘i’s most iconic gifts. Naming the Innovation Center at the Culinary Institute of the Pacific is a fitting tribute to Mamoru and Aiko Takitani.”
- Michael W. Perry, Chairman of the Takitani Foundation Board of Directors
“We are excited about the new Innovation Center and the potential for fresh new ideas in the culinary arts here in Hawaiʻi. We are pleased to continue the Takitani’s vision for Hawaiian Host and contribute to the mission and work of the Takitani Foundation to support youth in their educational goals.”
- Ed Schultz, president of Hawaiian Host
Over the years the Takitani Foundation has provided over $5.4 million in scholarships and grants in Hawaiʻi. At UH, the Takitani Foundation has been a key funder of the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) program at the Shidler College of Business at UH Mānoa, and recently funded the 13th Year Programs at Windward Community College and Honolulu Community College for students in need of support.
Questions? / More Information
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About the Culinary Institute of the Pacific (CIP)
As part of the University of Hawai`i System of universities and colleges, the 7.8-acre high tech campus is located minutes from Honolulu’s business center on the slopes of Diamond Head. The CIP is an advanced, one-of-a-kind culinary campus that has a global reach emphasizing the cultural diversity of the Islands with a commitment to sustainability, research, and advanced learning opportunities in culinary management and food service. For more information, please contact John L Richards, Dean - Career & Technical Education, Culinary, Hospitality, Business, Legal & Technology, Culinary Institute of the Pacific - Hawai‘i, Kapi'olani Community College,Phone: (808) 734-9518 or E-mail: [email protected]
About the University of Hawai‘i
Established in 1907 and fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the University of Hawai‘i System includes 10 campuses and dozens of educational, training and research centers across the state. As the sole public system of higher education in Hawai‘i, UH offers an array of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees and community programs. UH enrolls about 50,000 students from Hawai‘i, the U.S. continent and around the world. For more information visit UHNews.org, www.hawaii.edu, Facebook or Twitter.
The University of Hawai‘i Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawai‘i System. The mission of the University of Hawai‘i Foundation is to unite donors’ passions with the University of Hawai‘i’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawai‘i and our future generations. www.uhfoundation.org
