This year, three of Hawai‘i Island’s top chefs will battle it out live, crafting three incredible courses right before our eyes! Attendees will have a front-row seat as these talented chefs bring their unique flavors, style, and creativity to life, celebrating the vibrant tastes of the Pacific and Asia.
Our judges will score the dishes, but guests will also have the power to help crown the winner by voting for their favorite chef!
2026 COMEPTING Chef's
Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort
Chef Junior Ulep, a native of Hawai‘i from the North Shore of O‘ahu is a professional chef known for his work in Hawai’i and always featuring the abundance of sustainable products in the Hawaiian Islands. Chef Junior is currently working as the Chef de Cuisine at the Kahuwai Cookhouse Restaurant, Kona Village A Rosewood Resort. His experience is filled with top name restaurants in Hawai‘i including Brown’s Beach House at Fairmont Orchid, Kula Lodge & Restaurant in Kula Maui, Meridia Restaurant at Westin Hapuna Resort, Ke‘olu Clubhouse at Hualalai and the Ulu Restaurant at Four Seasons Hualalai Big Island, Ray’s On The Bay Restaurant Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa, Canoe House Restaurant Mauna Lani Auberge Collection, Manta Restaurant Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Autograph Collection, Four Seasons Resort Lana’i Manele Bay and Lodge at Koele (Sensei Lana’i) A Four Seasons Resort, Winchester Inn Ashland Oregon.
SusHI
Kaikili, a chef from Hilo, Hawai‘i, brings more than fifteen years of culinary experience shaped by rigorous training under Japanese masters. His career includes time working alongside renowned chefs Masaharu Morimoto and Norio Yamamoto, where he honed both technical precision and creative expression at a high level.
After three years of producing pop-up dining events and refining a distinct culinary perspective, Kaikili opened his first restaurant in 2020. Specializing in sushi, his cuisine reflects a thoughtful balance of time-honored technique and contemporary sensibility. The result is a dining experience rooted in quality and craftsmanship, delivered in a streamlined, quick-service format with a relaxed, BYO approach.
Today, Chef Kaikili splits his time between the members-only restaurant at the Four Seasons and one of his SusHI concepts in Waikoloa or Hilo, continuing to evolve his craft while maintaining a strong connection to Hawai‘i’s local dining community.
Jackie Reyʻs Kona
Executive Chef based in Hawai‘i with over 15 years of experience in hospitality and multi-concept restaurant leadership. Raised in Hawai‘i with Filipino roots, his cooking is inspired by local flavors, cultural traditions, and a genuine love for bringing people together through food.
He focuses on menu development, kitchen systems, and team leadership—keeping things consistent, efficient, and running strong behind the scenes. Jeric is known for blending creativity with structure, creating dining experiences that feel elevated, approachable, and rooted in good hospitality.
Outside the kitchen, Jeric enjoys spending time with his family, exploring new food spots, and staying inspired by the ever-evolving culinary scene.
Hawai'i Island's top mixologists battle it out to dethrone last year's winner, Phaedra Kammerer!
Sip on vibrant, creative cocktails as these talented bartenders shake up the competition for the title. Don’t miss the fun and flavor! Our VIP guests will choose this year's winner!
Competition & Tasting will happen during the VIP hour 11am-12pm
2026 MIXOLOGISTS
Magics Beach Grill
2025 Cocktail Showdown Champion
Phaedra is a bartender at Magics Beach Grill in Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, where she returns for her second year in a row, bringing her signature blend of creativity, warmth, and playful energy behind the bar. Originally from the hills and beaches of the north side of the Big Island, she has been part of the Magics story since its opening in late 2018.
An ocean soul at heart, Phaedra spends her time surfing, long-distance paddle boarding, fishing, and adventuring with her family. Her creativity extends beyond the water into lei making and plant propagation, keeping her deeply connected to both land and sea.
That connection shows up in her cocktails—thoughtfully crafted with fresh fruits, floral notes, and grounded elements from roots and earth. In 2025, she earned 1st place at Taste of the Pacific and also competed in the Waikoloa Mai Tai Competition.
Playful, kind, and creative, Phaedra brings an inviting energy to every drink she makes—turning simple moments into something memorable.
Hale-Kai Bar - Fairmont Orchid
Originally from Turkey, Berat Aydin brings a global perspective and passion for flavor to his craft as he represents Hale Kai Bar at the Fairmont Orchid.
Drawn to Hawaiʻi’s vibrant ingredients, Berat especially enjoys working with local favorites like lilikoi and coconut—infusing his creations with bright, tropical character.
Outside of the bar, he spends his time cooking, hiking, and playing volleyball, embracing an active lifestyle that reflects the energy he brings to his work.
Berat previously competed in the World Class competition in 2021, gaining valuable experience on an international stage. With a strong foundation and creative approach, he continues to refine his craft and share his unique blend of influences through every cocktail he creates.
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The Hidden Nene
With nearly a decade of experience in the industry, Tasha approaches bartending as a seamless fusion of art and movement—where every pour, stir, and garnish becomes part of a larger performance.
Currently refining her craft at The Hidden Nene in her hometown of Hilo, she blends a deep respect for the slow, intentional process of a perfectly crafted Old Fashioned with a passion for high-flair presentation.
For Tasha, bartending goes beyond the drink—it’s about creating an atmosphere. Her goal is to cultivate a safe, vibrant space where every guest feels welcomed, connected, and part of something special.
2026 JUDGES & HOST
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JUDGE
CHEF JUSTINE MA
Chef/Owner of Bougie Farmer Co
JUDGE
Grezia Godoy
International Food Enthusiast,
Food & Beverage Management at
Mauna Lani, Auberge Collection
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Chef Junior Ulep
Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort
Chef Kaikili Roldan
SusHI
Chef Jeric Genavia
Jackie Reyʻs Kona
Chef George Gomes
King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Resort
Chef Jason Kanekoa
Marriott Waikoloa
Chef Tracey Apoliona &
Chef Brightwell Youngstrom
Hawai'i Island Catering Co.
Chef Ash Danao
Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
Chef Clayton Arakawa
Big Island Provisions
Chef Rosemary Vallente
Mayflo's Kitchen
Chef Tara Hing
Malama Coffee
Chef Ernie
Aloha Keiki Provisions
Chef Maikai Coelho
Binchotan at Fairmont Orchid
Chef Wailailak
Thai Nong Khai Express
Kalei Jury & Brandon Ventura
Hamakua Coast Premium
2025
Chef Rhoda Magbitang
CanoeHouse
2024
Chef Chad Yamamoto
Walua Social Club
2023
Chef George Gomes
King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort
2022
Chef Dayne Tanabe
DYNE
2021
Chef Tracey Apoliona & Brightwell Youngstrom
Hawaiʻi Island Catering Co.
2025
Phaedra Kammerer
Magics Beach Grill
2024
Preston Branco
Four Seasons Resort
2025 EVENT SPONSORS
