Maui Community College's Culinary Arts program moved into the Pa'ina Building in the fall of 2003. The $14 million state of the art facility features seven specialty kitchens, a food court, multimedia classrooms, meeting rooms, and a fine dining restaurant. The atmosphere is absolutely electric, says chef/instructor Chris Speere. Pa'ina allows instructors to integrate teaching with commercial operations to offer a dynamic learning environment.

With the new building comes a new name. MCC's Food Service program has been renamed the Maui Culinary Academy.

What has not changed is a curriculum that blends foundations and traditional European training with Hawaii's multi-ethnic cuisine. Classes are small, personal, and rigorous, with additional learning gained through research and development experiences with local chefs, restaurants,resorts, farmers, and vendors.

Pa'ina is absolutely spectacular and can rival any culinary arts facility in the country," says Chef Robert Santos