Local dentist Alvin H. L. Chung has pledged $100,000 to support the University of Hawai‘i Culinary Institute of the Pacific (CIP) at Diamond Head. In recognition of his generosity, the Outdoor Terrace at the Signature Restaurant at CIP will be named after the Tai Yau Chung Foundation and Alvin H. L. Chung, DDS.
Alvin Chung said, “My family and I are so pleased to be making this gift to support the capital needs of the Culinary Institute of the Pacific. We are great proponents of both fine food and good nutrition, which we feel are keys to longevity and happiness. The culinary arts education throughout the UH Community Colleges has had many great successes. We are more than happy to help advance culinary education in Hawai‘i which, in turn, will help our state continue to prosper.”
A successful dentist, Chung has practiced in Hawai‘i for 30 years and served as a member of the American Dental Association, Hawai‘i Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry among others. Passionate about the culinary experience in Hawai‘i, Chung has been a supporting member of the Kapi‘olani Community College Culinary Institute of the Pacific Honorary Committee since 2000.
“The Culinary Institute of the Pacific holds the promise of educating generations of culinary professionals from Hawai‘i and beyond,” said Kapi‘olani Community College Chancellor Louise Pagotto. She continued, “The state of the art kitchen at CIP is already host to advanced culinary training, providing students and faculty with rich experiences in the exploration of culinary trends. Now, through the generosity of the Chung family, we are that much closer to realizing the dream of a signature restaurant at CIP.”
This new gift builds on the Chung family’s legacy of giving back to Hawai‘i. Tai Yau Chung, CLU, ChFC, Chung’s father, was born in Chungshan, China. He came to Honolulu when he was 11 years old. A graduate of Farrington High School, Tai Yau became a successful professional in the life insurance industry and a dedicated community leader. He founded Chung Insurance and Investment Group which is now Spectrum Wealth Management, LLC. He served as president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, United Chinese Society, Ching Clan Benevolent Society and the Triple C Club and served as a director of the Palolo Chinese Home.
Make a GiftDonna Vuchinich, president and CEO of the University of Hawai‘i Foundation said, “Thanks to the Chung family and our other generous donors, we are making great progress in our collective effort to raise funds to bring our long-term vision of CIP to life for the benefit of our students and state. Mahalo!”
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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
