HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – If you’ve been to New York City, you know how hard it is to find a taste of Hawaii.

Kalihi-born chef Monique Cadavona is working to change that through her catering and consulting business Mama Guava and new street food offshoot Kalihi, driven by a deep-rooted desire to share the flavors of her Hawaii upbringing.

Think dishes like octopus poke tacos and garlic soy chicken sandos piled with cucumber kimchi and mac salad. She joined HNN’s Sunrise while visiting family on Oahu to showcase some of her creative dishes.

Cadavona said she discovered her passion for cooking early on, learning from her Filipino heritage of her mother and aunts. This early foundation sparked a culinary journey that took her from her island to New York City.

She said she dove headfirst into the competitive culinary scene, honing her skills under the mentorship of Michelin-starred chefs, James Beard nominees, and renowned culinary personalities. She’s worked front-of-house and on high-profile events and consulting projects, with clients like Porsche, Alexander Wang, Goldman Sachs, and golfer Tony Finau.

“Mama Guava started as pop up tasting dinners, now it is mainly my consulting and private work, including media collaborations. Kalihi is what I would like to turn into a quick service restaurant, my own version of a L&L or Zippy’s but in New York City,” Cadavona said.

“My Mama Guava motto is ‘I just want to cook like your grandma.’ For Kalihi, my motto is ‘Baby, did you eat?’” she added. “I think a lot of people in this world can relate to the comfort that food brings them, especially if it comes from a place of deep love and care. I also believe that our food – Hawaii Regional Cuisine is very special. I think there is a lot of soul that I would like to bring to the rest of the world that has never experienced it. I believe we have a special touch.”

To learn more about Cadavona and where you can find her next, follow her on Instagram at @mamaguavanyc.

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