the hawaii restaurant association`s sixth annual hall of Fame

The Hawaii Restaurant Association’s
Sixth Annual Hall of Fame
Induction Celebration!
By Roger Morey -Executive Director of the Hawaii Restaurant Association.
Photo Credit: Kelli Bullock Photography
T
he
Hawaii
Restaurant
Association’s Sixth Annual Hall
of Fame Induction Celebration
was held in late October at the Hawaii
Prince Hotel. This year, as in previous
years, the Association nominates and
then selects individuals or companies
that have played a significant role in
the restaurant industry in Hawaii.
“It’s an opportunity and an honor
to be a part in the recognition these
pioneers; the people and organizations
that are at the core of the hospitality
industry in Hawaii” said Roger Morey,
Executive Director of the Hawaii
Restaurant Association. Beginning in
January HRA Board member Conrad
Nonaka, Director of the Culinary
Institute of the Pacific, assembles an
all-star search committee made up of
restaurateurs, suppliers and interested
parties. They have the arduous task
of going through those nominated,
and making the final selections. It is
a difficult assignment, but rewarding.
This year’s inductees included
Floyd and Doris Christenson of
Mama’s Fish House in Maui), Lyle
and Grace Guslander, founders of
the famous Coco Palms Hotel in
Kauai, the Hayashi family of Pagoda
Hotel & Floating Restaurant/Pacific
Beach Hotel fame, the late John
Heckathorn, a veteran journalist and
editor at Honolulu Magazine who
wrote a popular food column, Tom
Jones, current chair of the Hawaii
Restaurant Association and founder
of the Gyotaku Japanese Restaurants,
Harold and Nancy Manago from the
acclaimed Manago Hotel on the Big
Island, Harry Marn Sin Mau and Bat
Moi Kam Mau from the noteworthy
Chinatown restaurant Char Hung
Sut, Russell Siu who founded 3660
on the Rise and Kaka`ako Kitchen,
the Teruya family for their successful
Armstrong Produce company, and the
Francis and Mary Tom family from the
ever-popular Wailana Coffee House.
The inductees represent hospitality of
the highest order.
Mistress
and
master
of
ceremonies, Jo McGarry Curran
and A. Kam Napier, introduced the
inductees while briefly describing
their dedication to and many years of
service in one of Hawaii’s most notable
industries. The time leading into the
induction program saw a fascinating
Dine Around featuring this year’s
Chefs of Aloha. Early in 2012 the
Association scoured local print media
sources for chefs who earned notoriety
in the preceding months. The final
selection include Ed Kenney (Town),
John Memering (Cactus Bistro),
Fred DeAngelo (The Grove), Ronnie
Nasuti (Tiki’s Grill and Bar), Lindsey
Ozawa (Prima), Bob McGee (Whole
Ox Butcher & Deli), and Eddie Mizuno
(Hawaii Prince Hotel). n
If you have any questions about the
annual event please contact the
Hawaii Restaurant Association at
(808) 944-9105 or hra@restauranthi.
com.