Be the Change: ACF Honolulu Donates Remaining Funds to Support Pono Collective’s Mission

The 2009 ACF Hawaiʻi Team from Kapiʻolani Community College, Western Regional and National Gold Winners, celebrates excellence, dedication, and the pride of Hawaiʻi’s culinary community. Photo provided by Frank Leake

The closure of a beloved organization often marks the end of an era, but it can also inspire new beginnings. This was the case with the American Culinary Federation (ACF) - Honolulu, which, upon its dissolution in October, chose to leave a lasting legacy in Hawaiʻi by donating its remaining funds to Pono Collective.

To commemorate their organization’s final act of service, Frank Leake, ACF Honolulu’s Senior Vice President and National Chair of ACF’s Ethics Committee, shared the following statement:

Be the Change

“We but mirror the world… If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change… We need not wait to see what others do”.
— Mahatma Gandhi

The American Culinary Federation - Honolulu has historically been committed to advancing culinary education and fostering community collaboration. In selecting the recipient of our donation, we conducted a thorough review of the respective missions of each organization and ensured that the enduring legacy of our chapter would be preserved even after its dissolution. With a shared commitment to our respective missions, a sense of purpose, and a clear direction, Pono Collective emerged as the ideal candidate for our donation.

Donations significantly enhance the mission impact of Pono Collective and contribute to the future of Hawaii. “Be the Change”

Frank Leake, CCC, CCE, AAC
ACF Honolulu, Senior Vice President and
National Chair, ACF Ethics Committee

Pono Collective extends its deepest aloha and gratitude to ACF Honolulu for this meaningful contribution. Their generosity represents decades of culinary leadership in Hawaiʻi and helps ensure that their legacy continues through education, community empowerment, and the advancement of local agriculture. We are humbled by their trust in our mission and thankful for the opportunity to carry forward the spirit of service that ACF Honolulu has embodied for so many years. Mahalo nui!