Da Kitchen Prepares Senator Hirono’s Reception Dinner

Les Tomita, founder and owner of Da Kitchen, and US Senator Mazie Hirono in DC. Courtesy photo.

By Sonia Isotov

Les Tomita and Mariah Brown, founders and owners of Da Kitchen restaurant, traveled to Washington, DC from Kahului, Maui on Thursday, Jan. 3, to prepare the reception dinner for Mazie Hirono’s official swearing-in as a US senator.

Tomita and Brown brought fresh island produce and products from Hawai’i and cooked up local fare found at Da Kitchen restaurants as well as a few surprises for Mazie Hirono’s guests in DC.

US Senator Mazie Hirono excited to have Da Kitchen serving at her swearing-in reception. Courtesy photo.

This will be Les Tomita’s second trip bringing cuisine from Hawai’i to Washington, DC. Tomita was previously invited to cook for the “Inaugural Luau” back in 2009 for the inauguration of President Obama.