University of Hawai‘i Maui College Culinary Arts Program has announced details for their 2026 Noble Chef fundraising gala and introduction of an ongoing Noble Chef Dinner Series leading up to the Gala.  

The Inaugural Noble Chef Dinner Series – 

This new and exciting fall dinner series will feature Maui’s most talented Chefs working alongside the Culinary Arts Students to present a spectacular five course dinner. Featured Chefs and dates for this series include:

Friday Oct. 2, 2026, 6 – 9:30 p.m. 

Gather Around the Table – Family Style – Wine and Local Beer Pairing Dinner 

“Local Kine Grinds of The Pacific Rim” –  The Class Act Restaurant 

Chef Aristotle Aurelio – Kumpad Katering – UHMCAlumni – Culinary Arts 

$250 per person

Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, 6 – 9:30 p.m.

5 Course Dinner with Amuse Bouche – Wine Pairing

Farm To Table – The Class Act Restaurant 

Chef Taylor Ponte – UHMCAlumni – Culinary Arts 

$250 per person 

Friday, Dec. 4, 2026    6 – 9:30 p.m.

5 Course Dinner with Amuse Bouche – Wine Pairing 

Holiday Traditions – French – The Class Act Restaurant 

Chef JoJo Vasquez – Culinary Director and Executive Chef  – 

The Ridge at Wao Kele and The Vineyard House Winery 

$250 per person 

The Leis Family Class Act Dinners Reservations and Seating via OpenTable – Contact: Mark Malone – classact@hawaii.edu  Please Note: Each dinner series event will have a minimum capacity to operate if capacity is not met, the event will be canceled with 7 days advance notice. 

The Annual Noble Chef Fundraising Gala – 

This special event returns with the festivities taking place on site at the UHMC Culinary Arts Center Pa‘ina Building on this evening, UHMC Culinary Arts instructors and students open up their classrooms to the community in honor of Chef Tylun Pang and his legacy dedicated to student success initiatives. 

Friday Nov. 13, 2026, 6 – 9:30 p.m.

Maui’s top celebrity chefs will present a selection of appetizers at the cocktail reception created and prepared by a chef-student team. Prior to the event, UHMC Culinary Arts students are offered the opportunity to work side-by-side with the chefs in their restaurants and at the University for hands-on training. The opportunity to be involved in the process from developing a menu item through the delivery of locally sourced, world-class cuisine prepares students as they “learn by doing” for their transformation into the next generation of professional chefs.  

Working one-on-one with UHMC Culinary Arts students, this year our participating local restaurant partners include: 

• The Kea Lani Resort 
• Duke’s Beach House Maui 
• The Grand Wailea Resort
• Humble Market Kitchen 
• The Ridge at Wao Kele and The Vineyard House Winery
• Spoon & Key Market
• Star Noodle 
• Taverna
• ʻUlupalakua Ranch 
• 62 MarcKet 

After sampling the appetizers, guests can cast their vote for their favorite appetizer. The winning chef & student team will be recognized for their unique, creative presentation, and blending of flavors.

Wine and sparkling wine selections featuring local island producers Maui Wine. In addition, The Vineyard House – Nickel Winery and a selection of fine wines supported by Ohana Beverage Company and Maui Brewing Company will be available during the reception and paired with the dinner series courses.  A Silent Auction and “Fund A Need” program will also be held to secure additional charitable donations to benefit the culinary program. 

The Culinary Arts Program Welcomes Back the musical talent of Nā Wai ʻEhā  performing Hawaiian and contemporary selections with hula vignettes throughout the evening. 

The Noble Chef Gala is UH Maui College Culinary Arts Program’s largest annual fundraiser, with proceeds directly supporting culinary education, student career advancement, and community service. Proceeds are also allocated toward student scholarships, student field experiences and internships, student culinary competitions, program enrichment, study abroad opportunities and professional development for culinary faculty. 

Sponsors for the Nobel Chef Wine Series and Annual Gala includeUH Foundation, UHMC Culinary Arts, Ohana Beverage, The Ridge at Wao Kele and The Vineyard House Winery, 

La Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Maui, Maui Brewing Company, Maui Wine, Maui No Ka Oi Magazine, Envisions Entertainment and Asa Flowers. 

Tickets for the Noble Chef Gala are $225 per person. Traditional table sponsorship level opportunities are as follows: 

$10,000 for a Title Sponsorship “Lōkahi” (table of eight), $5,000 for a Premiere Sponsorship “Ho’omau” (table of eight) and $3,000 for a Patron Sponsorship “Ho‘okipa” (table of eight). Limited seating is available. Individual Tickets via Eventbrite starting October 1, 2026 Noble Chef – Sponsorship Tables – Contact UH Foundation – Jocelyn Romero Demirbag – jocelyn.romerodemirbag@uhfoundation.org. These sponsorship tables offer a funding opportunity for companies, organizations, and foundations wishing to contribute in a more generous way at various donations levels. Sponsorships will be recognized and offered premier seating at the event. 

About UH Maui College Culinary Arts Program

UHMC Culinary Arts Program is an award-winning program, accredited by The American Culinary Federation (ACF)  with Exemplary status in 2025. The program is housed in the beautiful 38,000 square-feet Pa’ina Culinary Arts Center at the University of Hawai`i Maui College campus in Kahului. Instructors integrate culinary classes with specialized commercial operations to offer an intensive learning environment. Students gain practical training in nine kitchen labs and prepare for the professional industry by operating several food outlets. The curriculum emphasizes outreach and field experience through resort hotel properties, local restaurants, agricultural partners and professional industry support in research and development. 

The award-winning Leis Family Class Act is a fine dining room, which serves as a learning lab for culinary students will re-open to the public for lunch starting the fall semester of 2027. Guests are welcome to enjoy informal lunches in the Pa’ina Cafe open daily throughout the 2026 Fall semester. The Cafe also serves as a culinary lab for students offering items from the World Plate and Paniolo Kitchen.