Our Impact

Since 2022, Pono Collective has had the privilege of partnering with Kapiʻolani Community College’s Culinary Innovation Center to provide students with hands-on experience in Hawai‘i’s specialty coffee and cacao industries. By taking students out of the traditional classroom and teaching holistically through curated site visits and discussions with growers, sensory professionals, roasters, baristas, and entrepreneurs, the goal is to inspire students to connect more deeply with the origins of the ingredients they use every day. This immersive approach has made a lasting impression on students, educators, and industry professionals alike.

Inspired by these experiences, Kapiʻolani Community College’s Culinary Department launched a series of courses in 2023 called the Advanced Culinary Experiences (A.C.E.). These unique classes offer different options each semester and build on the 2022 pilot project with Pono Collective, with the goal of expanding learning beyond the kitchen. They provide students with a comprehensive understanding of food systems in Hawai‘i and around the world through travel and site visits. Students now earn college credit toward their degree while exploring sustainability, traceability, and cultural responsibility—learning directly from those shaping the future of food.

By connecting education to real-world settings and industry leaders, we are not only expanding what’s possible for culinary education but also investing in the future of learners and leaders dedicated to mālama ʻāina and strengthening community resilience.