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Mila's Kitchen Hawaii is a family, veteran and Native Hawaiian-owned pop-up poke bar concept led by Hawaiian Chef Charles Akau IV who was born and raised in Lihue, Kauai. Chef has worked in the culinary field for over a decade at world-renowned restaurants and resorts including Four Seasons Hualalai, Four Seasons Beverly Hills at Wolfgang Puck's Michelin restaurant, CUT, Disney Aulani and the Walt Disney Company, Roy's Hawaii, Sam Choy's Kai Lanai, and most recently, for Michelin-starred Chef Tony Esnault's French restaurant at South Coast Plaza, Knife Pleat.
The heart of Mila's Kitchen Hawaii is the 3-year old "boss" of the kitchen, Miss Mila Avalani, who is fondly known as Ava. She runs the kitchen, and is the muse for his art, as he connects his Hawaiian heritage with the flavors of Southern California to bring a taste of aloha in every bite and to share Hawaiian tradition with his Mila.
About us
Meet Chef Charles & Mila
Want us to bring the aloha to your next party? We are a flexible mobile kitchen concept, perfect for customizing special celebrations.
Like voyagers in a canoe, we are known as a nomadic kitchen, popping up whenever and wherever the best events and people are. We craft menus for special events, celebrations and for memorable occasions that include private chef services and food that match your event concept. We conveniently come to you or pop-up in your neighborhood bars, restaurants and favorite mom n' pop shops. All in all, whether at your home or at your event venue, convenience and high quality food are only one call away as Mila's Kitchen Hawaii brings the aloha to you.
“Chef Charles made our birthday such a special celebration.”
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Chef Charles was born and raised on the Garden Isle where they embrace the values of love of family, love of land, and love of culture. Mila's Kitchen Hawaii is deeply rooted in the belief that Hawaiian food is a way to perpetuate chef's indigenous culture, and remember the spirit of aloha in all that we do.
01. OHANA
Core values
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Food from the Asian Pacific region sustains our operation. Mila is both Filipina and Hawaiian, among other cultures represented in her identity, so chef creatively fuses different genres of food from different places around the world to create an unforgettable Hawaiian fusion dining experience.
02. CULTURE
Core values
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We believe that every one of our customers, employees and friends should be treated with aloha. Aloha is an overused, commercialized term, but in Hawaiian, it is a way of life. From caring for our planet to caring for our people, Mila's Kitchen Hawaii operates with the spirit of aloha in everything that we do.
03. ALOHA
Core values
