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Photo Caption: Kapi‘olani Community College Dean of Hospitality, Legal and Business Education John Richards (left), managing director at Hy’s Steak House Wakana Tabata (dressed in red), and Chef Grant Sato celebrate the gift with Kapi‘olani CC culinary students and members of the Hy’s team.

HONOLULU—Hy’s Steak House has donated $15,000 to support the Kapi‘olani Community College Culinary Arts program, building on the impact of its 2013 gift of $10,000. The Kapi‘olani CC Culinary program is an award winning American Culinary Federation-accredited program that provides Hawai‘i and the world with skilled culinarians knowledgeable in Asian and Western cuisines, and state-of-the-art pastry arts.

At a recent gift celebration, Wakana Tabata, managing director at Hy’s, shared, “On behalf of the owners and employees of Hy’s Steak House who all enthusiastically participated in the decision to make this gift, I am delighted to make this $15,000 gift to Kapi‘olani CC in support of its Culinary Arts program and the Regional Competition for its student chefs.” She continued, “Hy’s Steak House is heavily invested in our community.  We are committed to providing a fine dining experience in Waikīkī, employing a high quality team, working with local purveyors to bring Hawai‘i’s bounty to the table, and helping to provide education to those seeking to promote the best in nutrition and cuisine.” Tabata concluded, “We are proud to have graduates and students from the KCC culinary program in the Hy’s kitchen. We look forward to our continued association with the dedicated team at KCC who share our goal of making Hawai‘i a culinary destination!”

Kapi‘olani Community College Dean of Hospitality, Legal and Business Education John Richards said, “These are very exciting times for Kapi‘olani Culinary Arts. Thanks to generous support from our community, our students and faculty have the resources and expertise necessary to help them excel globally. We are most grateful to Hy’s for their generous support and partnership.”

Hy’s Steak House has existed as a fine dining steak house in the heart of Waikīkī for 38 years and is named as a top 10 restaurant in Honolulu in Zagat’s Guide for America’s Top Restaurants. It was recognized as the 2015 Business Insider’s Best Steakhouse in Hawai‘i and also received the 2015 Pulse Honolulu’s Best [People’s Choice, Fine Dining] Restaurant of the Year award.

If you have any questions about how you can support the students and programs at Kapi‘olani CC please contact:

Linh Hoang Poe
Director of Development for Kapi‘olani Community College
808-734-9570
[email protected]

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The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawaiʻi System. The mission of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is to unite donors' passions with the University of Hawaiʻi’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawaiʻi and our future generations www.uhfoundation.org.