Kapiʻolani Community College students got a sizzling surprise when Pōʻalua (Tuesday) Pancakes, a weekly free pancake breakfast on campus, kicked off again in January. Spatula in hand, renowned Chef Roy Yamaguchi joined the volunteer brigade in flipping flapjacks.
Through Pōʻalua Pancakes, Yamaguchi, the newly appointed executive director of the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, is working with the college’s administrators, faculty and staff to create an environment where students’ basic needs are met so they can thrive academically and also feel a sense of belonging and care.
“Seeing Chef Roy Yamaguchi around campus and serving free pancakes at our cafeteria is awesome and inspirational,” said culinary student Brayden Nomura. “After talking with him, I learned that he wanted to work here to do something to give back to the community and help build the next (generation) of upcoming chefs. As an employee of one of his restaurants, Iʻve witnessed firsthand that this is the same way he runs his restaurants.”
Pōʻalua Pancakes, the brainchild of Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi, debuted in the fall 2023 because a student survey showed that students were going hungry, with many skipping one meal a day. However, it is much more than a breakfast bonanza. The weekly event also serves as a platform for students to connect and explore campus resources.
“Tuesday’s free pancake event allows students to talk to our classmates about class,” Liberal Arts student Loise Inoue said. “It grants students the opportunity to talk to campus resources. I was able to eat free pancakes and learn about transferring to UH Mānoa.”
As the Pōʻalua Pancakes tradition continues, so will the spirit of community and connection, setting the tone for student success, with the added spark of a celebrity chef in the kitchen.
