Narrator: It started with a spark...  an idea...
The dream...
that's become the Culinary Institute of
the Pacific at Diamond Head.
Alan Wong: The vision for
the CIP is to create a world-class
school, a world-class education, with a
world-class faculty so that we can have
world-class student.
Narrator: You could almost taste the
excitement at the grand opening of Phase
I in the Spring of 2017.
David Lassner: What we now have
is a world-class facility. And this will
serve students from all over the state
who are studying Advanced Culinary Arts.
And many of them will be going on to
earn bachelor's degrees from other UH
campuses as well.
Tiffanie Masutani: It was my lifelong goal to actually get
my bachelor's degree. And so currently
I'm a fourth year student at UH
West O'ahu on track to graduate with my
Bachelor of Applied Science in Culinary
Management.
John Morton: We wanted that opportunity to
be available here locally so those
students, they could become the chefs,
they could become the managers, they
could open -- successfully -- their own
restaurants. And this is the beginning of
that dream coming true.
Narrator: The newest campus in the University of
Hawaii System -- offering professional
development for chefs and culinarians
already working in the field along with
advanced degrees -- has roots in the
nationally acclaimed Culinary Arts
programs in Hawaii's community colleges.
Alan Wong: I attended Kapiolani Community College
when it was on Pensacola Street. It was a two-year program. Looking back, I'm so
grateful for that time, for that
experience. You know, it laid the
foundation for me
it was my base. But this space can even
be much more with a four-year program,
because they can teach you more -- the
finer points refinement, creativity,
innovation. It just elevates the entire
culinary scene in the state of Hawaii.
Narrator: Phase
I of the CIP houses all the
infrastructure for both Phase I and
Phase II, as well as two spacious,
instructional food labs where classes
are now being offered and new
innovations are already being cooked up.
Tiffanie Masutani: The CIP is here in the middle of the
Pacific. It's just a great place to give
students an opportunity to learn from
world-renowned chefs. And the culinary
industry is always innovating!
Narrator: Another innovation is the way the project is
being funded -- through a combination of
state dollars and private donations. The
state will add $20 million dollars to
the project if the private sector steps
up with an additional $10 million in
matching funds by 2018/2019. So, a $10
million dollar capital campaign is now
underway in support of this
community-based, public-private
partnership.
David Ige: The Culinary Institute of
Pacific is such a tremendous example of
what we can do when we all work together,
and and everyone really being committed
to a bigger vision on behalf of all of
the students in Hawaii.
Narrator: Phase II will complete the project with
more classrooms, meeting spaces, and a
signature restaurant with panoramic
views that we still remember from the
old Cannon Club right here on this site.
Allan Wong: You know, this restaurant has the
opportunity to be teaching and to be
serving the foods that will really
really exemplify what modern-day Hawaii
is about today -- you know, innovation,
creativity, research, the development of
even a better cuisine.
Narrator: And integrated into the CIP signature
restaurant will be the Takitani Dining
Room -- an elegant private dining room
named for Mamoru and Aiko Takitani
whose charitable family foundation is
dedicated to helping the youth of Hawaii
achieve educational and career goals, and
supporting innovative change in
education. As chair of the Takitani
Foundation board, I work with a team of
committed community stakeholders who
believe the CIP will deliver a quality
education, a qualified workforce, and a
base for innovation in Hawaii's culinary
industry and our shared economic future.
David Ige: It really gives our students the
opportunity to be in a state-of-the-art
facility that can inspire students to
dream even bigger.
Narrator: So now we want you to join the
individuals, family foundations, and
businesses that have committed their
support to build this world-class,
educational institution that we have
-- right here -- in our own community.
Alan Wong: I want to I want to quote Socrates. He says, "Education doesn't fill a vessel.
Education is supposed to kindle a fire."
And so the fire is a CIP.
