Growing Up Hapa in Hawai‘i Recipes and Stories from Chef Ippy Aiona

Growing Up Hapa in Hawai‘i
Recipes and Stories from Chef Ippy Aiona
written by Ippy Aiona, photography by Dustin Acdal

Growing Up Hapa in Hawai‘i is
not your typical cookbook—it’s
a heartfelt journey told through
the lens of food, family, and heritage. Chef Ippy Aiona invites you
into his story shaped by two rich
cultures—Hawaiian and Italian—
blended together with love, grit,
and a deep sense of place.

From the Big Island town of
Waimea, where paniolo traditions
and plate lunches rule, to the cozy,
garlic-scented warmth of his mother’s Italian kitchen, Ippy’s culinary
path weaves through generations,
restaurants, and recipes. With roots
in his father’s restaurant, the Kamuela Deli, and his mother’s restaurant, Solimene’s, and rising to the
national stage through Food Network competitions and celebrated
restaurants like The Three Fat Pigs,
and stories that built his identity.

This deeply personal cookbook
pays tribute to the many chapters of
Ippy’s life—a life built on fusion,
resilience, and connection.

Inside,you’ll discover the soul of a chef
shaped by his heritage, community,
and family. Growing Up Hapa in
Hawai‘i is for anyone who believes
food is more than nourishment—it
is memory, culture, and love served
on a plate. Come hungry, and leave
inspired.

SPECIFICATIONS:
©2025 • 9x7.5 • 200pp.
Mutual Publishing
$30.00 • hardcover • #307764
978-1-949307-76-4
Printed in South Korea