Masa Gushiken

El Cielo - Honolulu, HI

Masa Arnaldo Gushiken spent the better part of his youth growing up in Argentina. After years learning Italian and French cuisines in kitchens around Tokyo, Gushiken went on a life-changing trip exploring the foods of Spain. There he worked in Barcelona, Galicia and San Sebastian where the language and simpler preparations took him back to the world of his youth. At its heart, El Cielo is Spain through Gushiken’s lens. The diverse menu includes classic dishes such as paella and croquetas de jamon as well as more niche recipes like tripe stew (callos) as well as boquerones and guindilla skewered around an olive. Tucked subtly in between are nods to Argentina, contemporary Japan and Spain. The totality of his training coalesces into his premier restaurant El Cielo, an elegantly renovated midcentury walk-up in Waikiki, which won editor’s pick as the Hale Aina Awards’ Best New Restaurant 2024. Masa Gushiken has been working every day since the El Cielo opened in May 2023, driven by his passion for food and his willingness in sharing his skills with travelers and coworkers alike.