Culinary Adventures at Mauna Lani
Taste your way through the Island of Hawai’i
Centuries ago, the land area known as Kalāhuipua'a belonged to King Kamehameha the Great. As the sacred fishponds– located adjacent to the Great Lawn– teemed with mullet and milkfish, King Kamehameha frequently feasted on the bounty which Kalāhuipua'a provided. To this day, Mauna Lani honors Hawai’i as our muse by curating indelible and out-of-the-box moments that celebrate our island home. From culinary collaborations with renowned chefs and eateries to specialty events emblematic of Hawaii’s beauty and culture, may we cultivate bespoke and everlasting memories in the sanctuary that is Kalāhuipua'a.
Infused with the Essence of Hawai’i
The Hale Hoaloha Lū'au
Seaside Dining
Inspired multi-course menus bode well with dazzling sunsets soaked in pink, orange and blue. Gather with loved ones to share a private dinner by the sea, complete with highly personalized service, complimentary amenities and serene ambience.
Leave your shoes in the room as you celebrate panoramic Pacific Ocean views with dynamic dishes crafted by Executive Chef Matt Raso of CanoeHouse. Our treasured signature restaurant is rooted in togetherness – taste the CanoeHouse legacy via five-course family style menus featuring fresh-caught seafood and tropical salads. Once you’ve indulged to your heart’s content, sit by the warmth of the fire, savoring sweet treats, a sky full of twinkling stars and a getaway you’ll remember forever.
- From $800, excluding service charge and tax
- Additional $100 for wine pairings curated by in-house sommelier
- Reservations required | For inquiries and bookings, please contact 808.885.6622
Time spent with loved ones is invaluable, which is why we’ve curated a bespoke and intimate experience that takes place under a starry sky. Starlight Dinners at Mauna Lani are private, allowing you to enjoy the company of that special someone while savoring a custom menu created by Executive Chef Allan of HāLani. Dine on a tranquil sliver of white-sand beach, pausing to listen to the sounds of the waves kissing the shore. Or slip away to a poolside cabana, cherishing a special evening that belongs solely to the two of you.
- $1,200 for two guests, excluding service charge and tax
- Complimentary welcome beverage upon arrival
- Reservations required | For inquiries and bookings, please contact 808.885.6622
Chef Talent
Chef Matt Raso, Executive Chef of CanoeHouse at Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
From cooking meals for his fellow marines to cultivating the heart and soul of CanoeHouse, Matt Raso is an innovative chef with a commitment to delivering high-quality, unpretentious cuisine. Just three years after graduating from the Art Institute of Dallas, Raso joined the launch team for Nobu Dallas in 2005, where he mastered their signature fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine while adding a Southern twist to dishes such as succulent king crab with ginger and rhubarb salsa. Following his 15 year run with the Nobu teams in both Dallas and Miami, Raso headed to the Island of Hawai’i, where he joined the CanoeHouse Team as Executive Chef in 2020. Responsible for fostering a warm and welcoming atmosphere at Mauna Lani’s storied eatery with the help of CanoeHouse General Manager and wife, Yuka Raso, Chef Matt exudes aloha via dynamic, authentic dishes and warm hospitality.
Chef Helen Hong, Executive Pastry Chef at Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
Helen Hong sparked her lifelong passion for all things culinary in her grandmother’s kitchen in South Korea. After moving to Los Angeles as a young adult, Hong refined her natural knack for pastry and dessert-making at Michelin-star restaurant, Providence. From French pastry school in Chicago to an eight-year stint at Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, Hong finds joy in flavor-matching desserts while meticulously perfecting the appearance of her dishes. When Hong joined the Mauna Lani ‘ohana as a Resident Pastry Chef in 2020, she instantly took a liking to the abundance of fresh and local ingredients found throughout the island. Her most memorable dessert? A flourless chocolate cake with coconut lime sorbet, complete with dehydrated chocolate and lime foam.
Past Culinary Adventures
A Taste of Auberge | Nami Nori at Mauna Lani
New York-based Nami Nori– which appropriately translates to "ride the wave" in Japanese– joins Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection for a culinary collaboration which seamlessly blends the fresh ingredients of Hawai'i with the dynamic flavors of Japan. Join us in our little slice of paradise for a collection of curated culinary events– three-course Temaki Dinner Experiences in the iconic Francis H. I’i Brown Suite, five-piece Temaki sets available exclusively at the Surf Shack, and authentic Temaki cooking classes– taking place from February 11th to February 24th.
My Menu One-of-a-Kind Experience with Michelle Bernstein
Rooted in epicurean excellence, Mauna Lani looks to the future, reimagining the Matt and Yuka Raso’s iconic “MY” Menu for one night only. In November of 2021, James Beard award-winner and Miami-based Chef, Michelle Bernstein, joined Chef Matt Raso for a culinary-driven conversation exploring the relationship between cultural heritage and cooking. Following the candid panel discussion, Chef Bernstein recreated the MY Menu with a Latin American flare, featuring a Wagyu steak asada and a tres leches cake made with lilikoi and Hawaiian mango.
Hawaii Food & Wine, Cuisines of the Sun | Coming October 2022
Returning to its original location at CanoeHouse, the Eleventh Annual Hawaii Food & Wine, Cuisines of the Sun event showcased gastronomic greatness via five-course affairs crafted by chefs Celestino Drago, Raphael Lunetta, Matt Raso and HFWF co-chair, Alan Wong. Dynamic and masterful dishes featured local ingredients sourced from land to sea, drawing inspiration from warm destinations across the globe. A storied and quintessential local event dedicated to celebrating Hawaii’s past, present and future, Hawaii Food & Wine will be returning to Mauna Lani in October of 2022.
