It’s commencement season, and this graduation year is particularly special to us, as our very own Food Safety Specialist, Alan Martin, is the first proud graduate of University of Hawai‘i’s Culinary Program at Kapi‘olani Community College (KCC) to earn a bachelor’s degree in Culinology—a field blending food science with the culinary arts.
Martin joined our Hawaiian Host family in February 2020 in the Quality Assurance department, where he “wear[s] many hats” in his role as Food Safety Specialist.
“I chose Culinology because I love food and innovation,” Alan says. “Quality and efficiency comes with the science behind cooking and creating food products. [Now], I am proud to be working with a household brand name, like Hawaiian Host.”
Before completing the Food Science—Culinology Program at KCC, often called “the Culinary Institute of the Pacific,” Martin earned an Associate’s Degree of Science in Culinary and Pastry Arts in 2014. He was also a recipient of several scholarships over the years, including the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani—Hawaiian Hosts’ founders—Foundation Innovation Scholarship.
Hawaiian Host Group’s Takitani Foundation—i.e., The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc.—is a non-profit organization devoted to helping Hawai‘i’s youth achieve their career goals by providing educational and scholarship opportunities. The Foundation also supports local programs that promote innovation in education, such as the KCC Innovation Scholarship.
The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation was established by our talented entrepreneurial founders, Mamoru and Aiko Takitani, in 1993 to thank the people of Hawai‘i for their support of Hawaiian Host products. Since its creation, the Foundation has provided over 2.3 million dollars in scholarships to students of merit, such as Alan.
Congratulations, Alan! We look forward to what culinary wonders you’ll whip up in our kitchen!
For more information about the Takitani Foundation’s scholarship programs, please email info@takitanifoundation.org.
To learn more about KCC’s Culinary Arts Program, visit their website.
Category: Culture
