Hawaiʻi restaurateur, chefs among James Beard semifinalists

A seasoned restauranteur with restaurants throughout the Islands, a handful of chefs and a local bakery are among some of Hawai‘i’s culinary talents who are semifinalists for the 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards.

The awards honor “excellence across all types of dining experiences, from fine-dining to casual establishments, while supporting and encouraging a more equitable and sustainable industry,” a Jan. 21 announcement noted.

Semifinalists from Hawai‘i include:

Outstanding Restauranteur: Peter Merriman

Merriman is the man behind, well, Merriman’s and opened his namesake restaurant in Waimea on Hawai‘i Island in 1988. In addition to the Big Island, Merriman’s also has locations on O‘ahu, Maui and Kaua‘i.

Merriman and restauranteur Bill Terry also founded Handcrafted Restaurants in 2011, the parent company behind the chef’s other dining concepts like Monkeypod Kitchen, which has locations in Wailea and Kā‘anapali on Maui, and Ko Olina and Waikīkī on O‘ahu; Moku Kitchen in Kaka‘ako; The Beach House in Po‘ipū; and ‘Ulu Kitchen on Kā‘anapali Beach.
Emerging Chef: Bao Tran, Giovedi

Giovedi is an Italian Asian restaurant in Chinatown led by Tran and wife Jennifer Akiyoshi, its website notes. The eatery was named one of The 20 Best New Restaurants of 2025 by Bon Appétit.
Outstanding Bakery: The Local General Store

The Kaimukī shop is part bakery and part whole-animal butcher shop, owned by Harley Tunac and Jason Chow, according to its website.
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Neale Asato, Asato Family Shop

Asato Family Shop, known for its sherbet made in “local kine” flavors, recently opened a new spot in Waikīkī. Read more about that here. Aloha State Daily's food and dining reporter Kelli Shiroma Braiotta also shares more about some of the company's more unique flavors here.
Best Chef, Northwest and Pacific: Michele Di Bari, Sale Pepe Pizzaria e Cucina in Lahaina; Ed Kenney of Mud Hen Water in Kaimukī; Andrew Le of The Pig and the Lady in Kaimukī; Sheldon Simeon of Tiffany’s Restaurant and Bar in Wailuku; Yuya Yamanaka of Paris.Hawai‘i in Kaka‘ako.