Chef Wade Tamura is a local Maui boy who grew up learning to cook by watching his mother.That early experience turned into a lifelong passion and profession.

After completing the City College of San Francisco’s Culinary Arts Program and Skyline College’s Hotel & Restaurant Management Program, Chef Tamura had the opportunity to work in a myriad of kitchens witch include the Slanted Door, Google Headquarters, Facebook Headquarters which is known for its unique company culture and restaurant-grade campus cafeterias.

At Facebook Hacking the Dragon food truck, one of 11 cafeterias on its Menlo Park California campus, Chef Tamura’s Sushi, Origami Salmon and Famous Fried Chicken with an island twist became popular staples among the crowds that streamed through his restaurant at lunch. Chef Tamura also has worked with James Beard Award winning Chef Sam Choy in opening up Sam Choy’s Poke to the Max restaurants.

While Chef Tamura’s work makes for a hectic schedule, his heart has not strayed far from giving back to the people who made who I am today. He has tirelessly donated his culinary expertise to community organizations such as the Japanese Community Youth Council, Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach’s Luau By The Bay with Master chef Sam Choy, and Nihonmachi Street Fair as well as the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce. Other charities are Emeril Lagasse Foundation , Leon Panetta Foundation, Meals on Wheels, Big Brother Big Sister of Honolulu, Mountain View Fire Department Pancake Breakfast, UCSF Burn Trauma Unit, Project Open Hand and Wolfgang Puck Foundation 5 Star Gala Benefiting Children’s Cancer Research.