Brian Hirata

Naau - Hilo, HI

Brian Hirata is a former culinary educator who left the security of a tenured position at Hawaii Community College to focus on Naau, and dedicate his life to preserving Hawaii’s food culture while progressing the local cuisine through thoughtful presentations. Naau has gained worldwide recognition for its mission since launching in 2019, earning Hirata a semifinalist nod for the James Beard Foundation Awards in 2022 for Emerging Chef, as well as a semifinalist nod in 2023 for Best Chef, Northwest and Pacific.