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Celebrity Chef Dinner at Pineapple Grill raises $6,500 for Maui Prep

By Staff | Jun 27, 2013

Pictured at the check presentation are, from left: Mary Anne Fitch, Maui Preparatory Academy board member; Chris Kaiwi, vice president and managing partner of Pineapple Grill; Dean Otto, Maui Prep Board of Trustees president; and Ryan Kirkham, Maui Prep principal.

KAPALUA – During the recent Kapalua Wine & Food Festival, Pineapple Grill Restaurant hosted a Celebrity Chef Dinner with proceeds going to support Maui Preparatory Academy.

The star-studded culinary event on June 8 featured renowned San Francisco Chefs Gary Danko of Restaurant Gary Danko and Nancy Oakes of Boulevard Restaurant along with Cohn Restaurant Group Chef Deborah Scott.

The four-course culinary extravaganza also featured the wine pairings of Rajat Parr of Sandhi Wines and Pax Mahle of Wind Gap Winery.

Chris Kaiwi, vice president and managing partner of Pineapple Grill at Kapalua, said, “Our support and decision in selecting MPA for this benefit was to provide the financial support for West Maui students to enroll in this wonderful college prep school.

“In addition, as a local business, we should take a responsible role in supporting education and early childhood development within our community. We are happy and proud to be a part of this community, and it’s our way of showing thanks for the support it has shown and the successes that we’ve achieved. It’s because we care!”

The event, which was spearheaded by Maui Prep Board Member Mary Anne Fitch, raised $6,500 to be used toward financial aid.

Dean Otto, president of the Board of Trustees for Maui Preparatory Academy, commented that “$6,500 is a big deal for a young nonprofit.

“We have fought an uphill battle for the first six years of the school’s existence, but as a result of forming strategic alliances with community-oriented individuals and businesses like Pineapple Grill, we can look forward to a period of sustained growth and prosperity.”

Maui Prep is an independent college preparatory school located in Napili. For information, visit www.mauiprep.org or call 665-9966.