• Palamanui Culinary Program Pre-Enrollment

    March 17, 2021
    Program Flyer
    We are starting to pre-enroll students for the fall semester, which begins in August. With that in mind, I would like to share information with you about our program.

    Our culinary program is designed to provide entry-level employment in hotels, full-service restaurants, fast food restaurants, institutions and private clubs. Our program has been accredited by the American Culinary Federation (ACF) since July 2005. The ACF is the largest professional chefs’ organization in North America and is made up of more than 14,000 members belonging to more than 170 chapters in four regions across the U.S. 

    In April 2019, our program had a site inspection visit from the accreditation arm of the ACF. The accreditation team stated that our facility and level of instruction, if placed in any destination in the United States, would be exemplary. 

    There are many career opportunities for students graduating from our program. Some examples include food service director, food and beverage director, food safety manager, culinary instructor, nutritionist, personal health coach, food writer, food stylist, molecular gastronomist, caterer, event planner, executive chef, entrepreneur, research and development chef and television personality. As our economy starts to reopen, there will be a substantial need for skilled culinarians.

    In terms of cost, the annual tuition and living expense budget to go to the Culinary Institute of America was $50,370 for the 2019-20 academic year (or approximately $100,000 to complete the two-year degree). 

    In contrast, the cost of our program is $131 per credit or $6,550 for our Certificate of Achievement (50 credits) or $8,777 for the Associate in Applied Science Degree (67 credits). Attached is a flyer that outlines the certificate and degree. We also help place our students at the Four Seasons Hualalai, Mauna Kea, Sheraton, Mauna Lani and Fairmont hotels. These resorts are rated as some of the best resorts in the country!

    Why go to the mainland and pay approximately $90,000 more than it costs to obtain a similar degree here?

    There are ACF Discovery Scholarships available for students entering our program in the link below. Please feel free to share this scholarship information with anyone wanting to enroll.

     http://www.konakohalachefs.org/resources/documents/ACF_KonaKohalaChefs_Scholarship.pdf

    Below is an article featuring our pastry chef Fernand Guiot, for a brief understanding of our pastry studies. 

    https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2021/02/09/features/the-palamanui-palate-chef-fernand-guiot-brings-decades-of-experience-to-the-classroom/

    If you need information on how to enroll, please contact our Office of Student Services at 808-969-8816 or paloss@hawaii.edu.

    Please let me know if you have any questions regarding our culinary program and how we may help the people you know, achieve their dreams!

    Feel free to share any and all of this information with people who may be seeking a culinary degree.

    Thank you so much for supporting our students and program!


    Paul E. Heerlein CCE,CCC
    Associate Professor/Coordinator Culinary Arts
    Hawaii Community College Palamanui
    P.O Box 1327
    Kailua-Kona, HI 96745-1327
    (808) 969-8838