Jean Hull (center) receives congratulatory leis from ACF Kona Kohala Chefs secretary Patti Kimball and president Ken Love. (Photo courtesy of ACF)

MEDIA RELEASE

Jean Hull, CCE, AAC received the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Western Region Cutting Edge Award at the recent ACF conference in Coeur d‘Alene, Idaho.

The award recognizes ACF members who volunteer on behalf of ACF, while noting exemplary service to the culinary profession. The ACF Western Region has 29 chapters and named five Cutting Edge recipients this year.

Hull has been an active member of the ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association since 1989. Since 1990, the Kailua-Kona resident has proposed and coordinated community programs and events raising more $50,000 annually.

Beneficiaries of Christmas at the Fairmont-Dining with the Chefs and Quisine of Hearts include culinary scholarships for students, continuing education support for members, plus funding for West Hawaii Chef & Child Foundation (CCF) programs.

Most recently Hull has spearheaded the Equip the Kitchens campaign for the future Hawaii Community College (HawCC)-Palamanui campus.

“Jean’s tireless service on behalf of the entire community has given all culinarians a foundation on which we can work to provide education to our children, delightful experiences to our visitors and strengthen the bonds we share across Hawaii,” said Ken Love, president of the Kona Kohala Chefs. “Jean’s selflessness has enriched all who are lucky enough to work with her.”

Hull is a long-time champion of culinary arts on the Big Island. She served as Associate Professor of Culinary Arts at HawCC-West Hawaii for more than 14 years.

The educator is credited with bringing higher education to West Hawaii in the early 90s by designing the food service curriculum approved by the University of Hawaii accreditation committee. This effort laid the foundation for a two-year, A.S. degree program at HawCC-West Hawaii.

Since Hull’s retirement from the college education sector, she continues to teach Hawaii’s children about making wise food choices. She and her CCF team reach more than 1,000 children annually, going into classrooms and teaching keiki how to make Healthy Fruit Kabobs and Smart Sandwiches.

As chairwoman of the local CCF effort since 2000, the Kona-Kohala Chapter was nationally recognized in 2002, 2006 and 2008 with the CCF Little Oscar Award.

Hull was recognized in 2010 with the ACF Western Regional Hermann G. Rusch Chef’s Achievement Award. The award recognizes a chef who has generously shared his knowledge with others throughout the years and continues to be a source of information and guidance for other culinarians.

Hull presently chairs the Equip the Kitchen Campaign to raise $1 million to outfit the culinary kitchens with state-of-the-art equipment at HawCC-Palamanui. She reports the effort has achieved 25 percent of the 10-step campaign; each step equals $100,000. A network of campaign team players, called the Kit Committee, assist at community benefits to raise campaign monies.

“I am particularly pleased to have James Lightner, HawCC hospitality director, as a huge force for information, contacts and presentation,” shares Hull, adding that Dr. Bruce Whitaker, a CPA, serves as campaign treasurer. “I also appreciate all the support from members of the ACF Kona Kohala Chef Association.”

Tasks for the capital campaign have included creating a logo, brochures, rack cards, gathering stories of student graduates, creating flyers and keeping the ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association informed and involved.