Twenty years ago when Peter Merriman was the Executive Chef at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel he and a group of local chefs started the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement. Shortly thereafter, Chef Merriman opened Merriman’s in Waimea.

From the Merriman’s website: “The Waimea restaurant is now widely recognized as the flagship home of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, the island-based culinary movement that has garnered worldwide acclaim. Chef and restaurateur Peter Merriman worked closely with local farmers, ranchers and fishermen to create Hawaii Regional Cuisine, which showcases fresh and local produce, meats and fish”

Now Hawaii Regional Cuisine has become the signature cuisine in Hawaii and Merriman’s legacy of supporting local farmers and using local ingredients has become the norm for most high end restaurants in Hawaii.

Last weekend, Richard Spiegel, the owner of Volcano Island Honey Co. stayed at the Kona Village Resort for a much needed and well deserved weekend getaway. Richard was all inner and outer smiles when the server brought a jar of Rare Hawaiian Organic White Honey along with jams and preserves to the breakfast table. It was the first time Richard’s white honey was ever served to him in a restaurant. Always doing market research, the incognito Richard asked the server if customers ever ask about the honey. The server lit up and said, “Oh yes! Everybody loves this honey.”

Back when the movement was just getting started, Peter Merriman started using our Rare Hawaiian Organic White Honey at the Mauna Lani. Now, 20 years later, the Mauna Lani is still serving our honey to guests.

We are truly thankful for the visionary chefs who started the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement and all of the chefs today who continue to appreciate and utilize our honey.

It was a sweet start for Volcano Island Honey. Today, there are eleven high end restaurants and resorts in Hawaii that serve our honey to their guests:

Kona Village Resort
Mauna Lani Resort Big, Island.
Four Season Resort Hualalai, Big Island
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Big Island
Hapuna Prince Hotel, Big Island
Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Oahu
Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk, Oahu
Sheraton Waikiki, Oahu
Moana Surfrider Waikiki, Oahu
Four Season Resorts Lanai, Lanai
St. Regis Princeville Resort, Kauai