the backstory
MEET LOCAL BOY TURNED CELEBRITY CHEF ADAM TABURA
Born and on the small island of Lana’i, Adam grew up with 3 brothers. Their strong family bond fostered kindness and respect for others. Isolated from the influences of fast food and supermarket convenience, Tabura learned to hunt and fish, and was part of a tight-knit community that cooked together, ate together, and learned together. From a very young age, the island’s abundance of fish, venison, and coconuts fostered his passion to become a chef one day.
At the age of 17, Adam was put in a life-changing situation when he witnessed a tourist drowning at Mānele Bay Beach.
With his quick thinking and bravery he leapt to the man’s aid, saving his life. Later that year, the man, compelled to express a token of appreciation, offered to to put Adam through culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, formerly the Western Culinary Institute, in Portland, Oregon — the pathway to his dream of becoming a chef.
Fast forward 25 years,
Chef Adam’s unique opportunity and passion turned into an executive level culinary career. He has worked at renowned restaurants on the Mainland US, across the Hawaiian Islands, as well as private chef more top celebrities.
sous chef at the lodge at Koele, Lana’i
Chef de Cuisine at the Manele Bay Resort on Lana’i
Chef de Cuisine at Kona Village at Hale Samoa, Hawai’i island
Executive Chef at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Wailea, Maui
executive Chef at Pulehu Italian Grill in Ka'anapali
Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas
aloha plate
After successfully graduating and receiving years of apprenticeship at top-tier restaurants, Adam decided to embark on a nationwide journey “spreading the spirit of aloha” with Aloha Plate, a food truck family venture with his brother Lanai Tabura and their best friend Shawn Felipe.
In 2013, the team competed and won the first place in the coveted Food Network's “The Great Food Truck Race” and gained global recognition. In 2021, the team returned to the show’s “All Stars Season” and stretched out all the way to Japan with a brick and mortar cafe at the beach at Kamakura, just south of Tokyo.
Chef Adam went on to compete at Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen”, where he demonstrated his vast knowledge of cooking, creativity and resourcefulness. He has also appeared as celebrity chef in various Hawaiian TV shows and online series in partnership with KTA, Spectrum, and Mana Up Hawaii.
Spicing it up lana’i style
Following the media success, Tabura decided to challenge himself once more and take his culinary talents full circle by starting his own spice company, Mānele Spice Co. Named after Mānele Bay in Lana’i, where his culinary journey began, the salt and spice blends bring together Hawai’i Ocean Rock Salt with the highest quality natural ingredients from around the world.
Chef Adam’s Coobook, “A Filipino Kitchen: Traditional Recipes With an Island Twist” was released in 2016 and features short stories about his childhood on Lana’i island. In 2017, Adam Tabura won the Ka Palapala Po'okela Award for excellence in the cookbook category.
back to the roots
Now based in Honolulu and with strong roots to Hawai’i, its people and traditions, Chef Adam’s goal is to share Aloha through his authentic food and spice creations.
