Lillian Cumic

Author - Hawaii: A Vegan Paradise - Honolulu, HI

Lillian Cumic is a vegan chef, author, model, and culinary educator known for her refined, cross-cultural approach to plant-based cuisine. She is a monthly columnist for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s CRAVE section, where her column, Nourishing Paradise, highlights the plant-based lifetsyle on Oahu.

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Cumic spent over 30 years in Sendai, Japan, building a culinary career as a head chef, dining bar owner, cooking instructor, and private chef.

Cumic is the author of three cookbooks: Hawaii: A Vegan Paradise, Tasting Hawaii Vegan Style, and Hawaii Washoku. She has a strong media presence, with features in multiple publications and regular appearances on Hawaii News Now Sunrise, where she presents a monthly cooking segment.

In 2024, she placed second in Taste of Home’s Favorite Chef competition out of more than 95,000 contestants, contributing to fundraising efforts for the James Beard Foundation. Through her work, Lillian Cumic continues to inspire a broader audience to embrace elevated, plant-based living.