NAʻAU
"Guts: of the heart and mind"
Ingredients I’ve learned about through hunting, fishing, foraging, and cultivating are utilized in my cuisine.
The cuisine and dining experience offered at Naʻau gives our team members the opportunity to share a part of themselves to our guests. The aspiration is for our guests to leave with a truly authentic, cultural experience, as well as a better understanding of what makes Hawaiʻi so special.
MISSION
Naʻau will showcase coveted, wild, and overlooked local ingredients to preserve Hawaiʻi’s food culture, progress the local cuisine, and perpetuate our culinary heritage in Hawaiʻi, while providing guests with an authentic, cultural experience, bringing global awareness to Hawaiʻi’s cuisine, and educating the public.
About Chef Brian Hirata
Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Chef Brian grew up hunting, fishing, farming, and foraging in the islands, and developed a respect for the outdoors. He graduated from the Culinary Arts Program at Hawaiʻi Community College, and gained valuable experience and an expert set of skills as the Sous Chef at The Hualalai Grille by Alan Wong and as a Culinary Instructor at Hawaiʻi Community College.
"I believe that when you lose a part of your heritage, you tend to struggle with moving forward thoughtfully because you don’t have a good understanding of where you came from in the first place. I think we lost this food connection, in a sense, and I want to see if we can find a way back to it - not for financial gain, but to better understand our roots and progress the local cuisine in a more conscientious fashion, while presenting a more authentic view of ourselves. "
Chef Brian is also available for private chef and speaking engagements. Email guestrelations@naauhilo.com for inquiries.