Melanie Kosaka

President, First Daughter MediaWorks Inc - Honolulu, HI

Melanie Kosaka is an Emmy and James Beard Award–winning media producer and culinary storyteller. She is the founder of First Daughter MediaWorks, Inc., a Honolulu-based production company that has created and executive produced five major culinary series for PBS and public television, with programming distributed in more than 60 countries. Her work includes The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter, winner of the James Beard Award for Best National Cooking Series, and Hawaii Cooks with Roy Yamaguchi. She has also led culinary content for digital and mobile platforms, including NOM, which was recognized by Apple at its debut as one of its “Apps We Love.”

Kosaka is also the founder of CookSpace Hawaii, an interactive culinary studio that brings people together through shared, hands-on culinary experiences. Her career spans television, digital and mobile media, and live culinary experiences, with a focus on using food and storytelling to spark curiosity, foster meaningful connections, and create a place where diverse communities all have a seat at the table.