Mauka to Makai: A Feast Forged by Flame, Fed by Rain

A CIA Student-Run Charity Dining Event

Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 5 p.m.

The Culinary Institute of America and the senior capstone class will celebrate the history of the Nā Pali Coast, on the island of Kaua’i, Hawai’i. Volcanic activity made Kaua’i millions of years ago, and over time heavy rainfall and water erosion transformed its landscape. Mauka to Makai means “from the mountains to the sea” in Hawaiian—a phrase that captures the natural flow of life and deep connection between land and the ocean. Our capstone event embraces this concept as a tribute to the breathtaking beauty of Hawai’i’s Nā Pali Coast, where towering cliffs meet the vast Pacific Ocean. This journey from summit to shore also symbolizes the path of giving: from the strength of our roots to the reach of our impact. Mauka to Makai welcomes our guests to a night of indulgence as we eat our way through the Nā Pali Coast while intertwining the beautiful nature of the island alongside bright invigorating plates.

Guests will begin with earthy and rooted ingredients such as sweet potato, taro leaf, and smoked breadfruit—evoking the richness of the uplands. Followed by dishes that highlight coastal seafood like shrimp, salmon, and Hamachi crudo. Finishes like coconut ponzu, pickled seaweed, and red Hawaiian sea salt tie in the makai essence. The dessert course channels coastal nostalgia: a beach bonfire dessert featuring torched meringue, pineapple rum-roasted banana cake, and coconut hibiscus ice cream.

Mauka to Makai is more than a capstone: our profits from the event will go to the Heather Ho Memorial Endowed Scholarship and Makai Foundation. Heather Ho was a graduate of CIA in 1993 who also studied at Boston University and attended high school in Hawaii. She went on to become executive pastry chef at Windows on the World. Unfortunately, only five months later, she passed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This scholarship is for CIA resident students of Hawaii, making it a perfect match for our event. The Makai Foundation is helping to rebuild Maui after the wildfires in August of 2023. Over 100 people lost their lives, and 17,000 acres burned during the fire, creating devastating impacts for Maui’s communities, its economy, and Hawaii’s infrastructure. The Makai Foundation provides rental assistance as well as assistance to families recovering from the disaster.