Mark Noguchi

The Pili Group - Honolulu, HI

Born and raised in Manoa, Oahu, Mark “Gooch” Noguchi brings infectious energy to everything he does – whether he’s teaching at Punahou School, leading kitchens as a chef of 25 years, or sailing with Ohana Waa. His enthusiasm is unmistakable and draws people in naturally. His formative years dancing with Hilo’s Halau o Kekuhi under the Kanakaole family gave him discipline and cultural grounding, but Noguchi’s approach to honoring tradition is as joyful and engaging as he is. With his wife and partner Amanda Corby Noguchi, he founded Pili Group and Chef Hui, turning kitchens into classrooms and meals into community celebrations.

Mark Noguchi doesn’t just cook food; he gathers people. His work connects ancestral wisdom with modern sustainability, always with the kind of genuine enthusiasm that creates connection. Whether he’s dirty in a loi at dawn, or cooking with kids, he approaches it all with the energy of someone who truly loves what he does. At the end of the day, though, his greatest pride comes from being a Girl Dad and devoted husband – roles that fuel everything else he brings to his community.