One does not have to be a “foodie” to appreciate the creative nuances of Alan Wong, perhaps our most famous local chef. He and Dean Okimoto of Nalo Farms will discuss the local movement regarding “farm-to-table” cuisine. After hearing these two industrious men discuss the food industry in Hawaii, we will better understand the term “locovore” (which does not mean “crazy eater,” incidentally) as well as gain an appreciation for the importance of symbiotic endeavors at the strategic level. Discussion topics will also include how to save land to grow our local food, what is needed to grow the best crops, why buying local is so important and what it does for the general health of the citizens of Hawaii. Further, we will better understand how the chefs of Hawaii are helping local farmers grow the varieties that are most popular and how the two groups collaborate. The lessons they present will provide translatable principles for other industries – perhaps yours! Jeanne Schultz Afuvai will act as moderator. Additionally, the Hawaii Prince is creating a special locally grown menu for this luncheon.

Alan Wong has made a name for himself internationally with his marriage of different ethnic cooking styles with the finest island-grown ingredients, creating local dishes with a contemporary twist. The James Beard Award winner for Best Chef - Northwest 1996, Wong was a founding member of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine Chefs. Wong was one of ten U.S. chefs nominated by the Wedgewood Awards for the title of World Master of Culinary Arts in the same year that Alan Wong's Restaurant was inducted in the Nation's Restaurant News' Hall of Fame. Bon Appetit magazine has recognized Chef Wong among its culinary legends as the 'Master of Hawaii Regional Cuisine', and Alan Wong's Restaurant has been ranked by Gourmet magazine twice as the only Honolulu restaurant rated in the top ten among America's Best Fifty Restaurants. Chef Wong is the author of New Wave Luau, and ten-time winner of the Hale 'Aina and Ilima Awards in Hawaii, for 'Restaurant of the Year' and 'Best Restaurant', respectively. His restaurant has way too many awards to list! In addition to Alan Wong's Restaurant and The Pineapple Room in Honolulu, Chef/Owner Wong also owns and operates Alan Wong's Hawaii in Tokyo Disneyland.

Dean Okimoto continued his family’s farming tradition by starting Nalo Farms, Inc. in 1983, producing herbs and specialty greens. Nalo takes its name from the rural area on the island of Oahu called Waimanalo at the foot of the beautiful Koolau mountain range, where Dean was born and raised (on the farm, of course!) After a crippling soil disease crisis in 1986 which killed his ability to grow in larger quantities, Dean considered leaving farming until he met Chef Roy Yamaguchi and master sommelier Chuck Furuya, who encouraged him to develop growing “baby greens,” and the rest, as they say, is history. Through experimentation, a great deal of trial and error, and live demonstrations, Nalo Farms was able to grow a market trend-setting array of baby greens and herbs, which allowed expansion of its customer base. Today, Nalo Farms service over 110 restaurants on Oahu and Maui, including wholesalers and supermarkets. Dean is a graduate of Redlands University, and also President of the State Farm Bureau (since 2004).

Jeanne Schultz Afuvai has decades of experience in planning and implementation strategies in government and business. In public service, her work has focused on advancing economic opportunities for the people of Hawaii. Jeanne has served as executive director of the Office of Economic Development at the City & County of Honolulu, deputy director and interim director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and deputy director of the state Department of Transportation, where she was involved in airport expansion. In business, she played a key role in the development of Kapolei as Oahu’s second city. Jeanne served as marketing manager at the James Campbell Estate, where she oversaw all aspects of the communications/branding program from planning to collateral to market research to accomplish the Estate’s goal of developing the new City of Kapolei in central Oahu. In addition, she worked for the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii where she established the military affairs council, Alexander and Baldwin Agribusiness as senior vice president of marketing and Xerox Corporation as branch sales manager. Jeanne has been honored with the “Citation for Exceptional Service in Support of National Defense” by the Association of the US Army. She is married and lives in Kailua. She earned a Bachelor of Science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.