ABOUT RESTAURANT WEEK HAWAII
THE MOST DELICIOUS WEEK OF THE YEAR
Restaurant Week Hawaii–Showcasing Hawaii’s restaurants and supporting the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head
DINE OUT!
Restaurant Week Hawaii is a seven day celebration of the cuisine scene in Hawaii. From fine dining to fast-food, participating restaurants will feature special menu items, promotions and discounts. Diners can sample Hawaii’s newest restaurants, dine at old favorites and taste a variety of exceptional dishes now being prepared by Hawaii’s chefs using locally grown produce. Restaurant Week is a reminder that Hawaii is a culinary destination with top chefs, farm to table dining, wonderful wine and a lot more to discover and explore.
The goal of Restaurant Week Hawaii is to realize a vision of an advanced culinary campus—the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head. Graduates of Hawaii’s first four-year culinary program will go on to serve Hawaii’s restaurant and hospitality industry and ultimately the greater community.
A portion of the proceeds from Restaurant Week Hawaii will support the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head.
Realizing a vision to build a world-class institute that sets a new standard for culinary education,
Creating a strong and viable workforce for Hawaii’s future,
Blending state-of-the art technology with cuisines from the east and west,
Combining leading edge business models with lessons from those who came before us,
Opening doors and changing lives of students who dream.
-The Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head
Groundbreaking ceremony on September 8, 2015
A Short History of Restaurant Week Hawaii
Restaurant Week Hawaii was first held in 2007, and in 2017 it celebrated ten years of bringing diners and restaurants together. Each edition featured special menus at participating restaurants across O‘ahu and beyond, supported by sponsors from Hawaii’s business community. The 2020 edition began on August 17, 2020, and invited all restaurants to take part without a sponsorship fee.
The event was guided by a committee of chefs, restaurateurs, farmers and industry leaders, with chefs Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong serving as honorary chairs. Conrad Nonaka, director of the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, chaired the committee for many years. The Mana‘ai Award for culinary students was created in his memory.
The Culinary Institute of the Pacific Today
Construction at the former Cannon Club site began in 2015, and the first phase, with professional culinary labs, was completed in 2017. The Mana‘ai Garden opened in 2016 thanks to Restaurant Week Hawaii sponsors and participating restaurants. University of Hawaii reports describe a second phase that adds a signature restaurant, an auditorium and an innovation center, and a 2024 collaboration with the Culinary Institute of America that offers professional courses for working chefs. Read the full story in our article on the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head.
Explore More
- Student Support: why students are at the heart of the event
- 10 Reasons to Support the Culinary Institute of the Pacific
- Restaurant Week Hawaii Committee
- How to make the most of restaurant week
- Building a culinary career in Hawaii
