Istanbul Hawaii highlights local ingredients in Turkish, Mediterranean cuisine

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Mother-daughter duo Chef Ahu Hettema and Chef Nili Yildirim have been sharing the flavors and cuisine of their homeland in Hawaii for nearly a decade.

Hettema and her parents immigrated from Turkey and create Turkish, Mediterranean and Anatolian dishes with fresh Hawaiian ingredients at Istanbul Hawaii in Ward Village.

They are among the chefs doing cooking demos at the Made in Hawaii Festival this Friday through Sunday, Aug. 23-25, at the Hawaii Convention Center.

They joined HNN’s Sunrise to showcase a dish they plan to make using local ingredients — Kona Kampachi — a fusion of Turkish flavors and Hawaiian produce.

The mother and daughter started their business by selling at farmers markets, winning over foodies with their unique dishes. They established the restaurant in 2020, at 1108 Auahi St., Suite 152.

Hettema says Istanbul Hawaii’s menu is influenced by several different cultures and backgrounds, including Greek, Arab, Armenian, Kurdish and Turkish.

Catch Istanbul’s chef demo at the Made in Hawaii Festival this Friday at 1 p.m. Tickets are available for $8 for day access.

For more information on the Made in Hawaii Festival, follow on Instagram @madeinhi or Facebook Made In Hawaii Festival or email info@madeinhawaiifestival.com.

Istanbul Hawaii is also hosting a luxurious “Night in Istanbul” James Beard Foundation dinner event on Sept. 9, celebrating culinary artistry, innovation, and tradition. For tickets, click here.

Istanbul is also on Instagram @istanbulhawaii and Facebook Istanbul Hawaii. For information, call (808) 772-4440 or email info@istanbulhawaii.com.

Istanbul is open Wednesday through Sunday 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-9 p.m.

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