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Culinary Assistant Jobs in Hawaii (NOW HIRING)

Essential Job Duties: * Assist customers with their orders * Responsible for all aspects of food preparation (prep work and cooking) including but not limited to: * Grilling items for plate lunches

Essential Job Duties: * Assist customers with their orders * Responsible for all aspects of food preparation (prep work and cooking) including but not limited to: * Grilling items for plate lunches

Essential Job Duties: * Assist customers with their orders * Responsible for all aspects of food preparation (prep work and cooking) including but not limited to: * Grilling items for plate lunches

Essential Job Duties: * Assist customers with their orders * Responsible for all aspects of food preparation (prep work and cooking) including but not limited to: * Grilling items for plate lunches

Essential Job Duties: * Assist customers with their orders * Responsible for all aspects of food preparation (prep work and cooking) including but not limited to: * Grilling items for plate lunches

Culinary Manager

Kihei, HI · On-site

$25/hr

Essential Job Duties: * Assist customers with their orders * Responsible for all aspects of food preparation (prep work and cooking) including but not limited to: * Grilling items for plate lunches

Essential Job Duties: * Assist customers with their orders * Responsible for all aspects of food preparation (prep work and cooking) including but not limited to: * Grilling items for plate lunches

Essential Job Duties: * Assist customers with their orders * Responsible for all aspects of food preparation (prep work and cooking) including but not limited to: * Grilling items for plate lunches

Essential Job Duties: * Assist customers with their orders * Responsible for all aspects of food preparation (prep work and cooking) including but not limited to: * Grilling items for plate lunches

Essential Job Duties: * Assist customers with their orders * Responsible for all aspects of food preparation (prep work and cooking) including but not limited to: * Grilling items for plate lunches

Culinary Manager

Aiea, HI · On-site

$25/hr

Essential Job Duties: * Assist customers with their orders * Responsible for all aspects of food preparation (prep work and cooking) including but not limited to: * Grilling items for plate lunches

Essential Job Duties: * Assist customers with their orders * Responsible for all aspects of food preparation (prep work and cooking) including but not limited to: * Grilling items for plate lunches

Essential Job Duties: * Assist customers with their orders * Responsible for all aspects of food preparation (prep work and cooking) including but not limited to: * Grilling items for plate lunches

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Culinary Assistant information

See Hawaii salary details

$9

$19

$34

How much do culinary assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for culinary assistant in Hawaii is $19.69, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.72 and $19.47 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a culinary assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Culinary Assistant, you need a solid understanding of food safety, basic cooking techniques, and kitchen operations, typically supported by a high school diploma or culinary coursework. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, food handling certifications (like ServSafe), and inventory management systems is common. Strong teamwork, time management, and communication skills help Culinary Assistants excel in fast-paced environments. These abilities ensure efficient food preparation, uphold safety standards, and support smooth kitchen operations.

What are some common challenges faced by culinary assistants in a fast-paced kitchen environment?

Culinary Assistants often face the challenge of multitasking under pressure, especially during busy meal services. They need to maintain high standards of food safety and cleanliness while quickly preparing ingredients and supporting chefs. Adapting to sudden changes in menu orders and working efficiently with team members are also frequent demands. Successful Culinary Assistants develop strong organizational skills and the ability to communicate effectively with the kitchen staff to ensure smooth operations.

What is the difference between Culinary Assistant vs Kitchen Helper?

AspectCulinary AssistantKitchen Helper
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may require food safety certificationTypically no formal credentials required
Work EnvironmentCommercial kitchens, restaurants, catering servicesFood prep areas, kitchens, cafeterias
Job ResponsibilitiesAssisting chefs, preparing ingredients, following recipesBasic food prep, cleaning, assisting with setup

Both roles support kitchen operations, but Culinary Assistants often have more specialized responsibilities and may require certifications. Kitchen Helpers typically perform basic tasks and support daily kitchen functions. The choice depends on experience and career goals in the culinary industry.

What is a culinary assistant?

A culinary assistant is responsible for aiding the head chef or kitchen manager in a restaurant or culinary training center for students. In this career, your job duties include ensuring that the kitchen remains clean, assisting with food preparation, and ensuring all cooking equipment is in proper working order. The qualifications for a career as a culinary assistant include a high school diploma and additional training in the culinary arts. This can include formal degrees from culinary schools or vocational training from trade schools. You need strong organizational skills, a passion for food, and excellent attention to detail.

What are the most commonly searched types of Culinary jobs in Hawaii?

The most popular types of Culinary jobs in Hawaii are:

What are popular job titles related to Culinary Assistant jobs in Hawaii?

For Culinary Assistant jobs in Hawaii, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Culinary Assistant jobs in Hawaii look for?

The top searched job categories for Culinary Assistant jobs in Hawaii are:

What cities in Hawaii are hiring for Culinary Assistant jobs?

Cities in Hawaii with the most Culinary Assistant job openings:

Infographic showing various Culinary Assistant job openings in Hawaii as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,956 per year, or $19.7 per hour.

Culinary Associate - CSD Culinary

Polynesian Cultural Center

Laie, HI • On-site

$17.04/hr

Part-time

Re-posted 5 days ago


Job description

Description
This is a multipurpose "Back of House" position for the Restaurant Services. Jobs may include any responsibility regularly found in the non-customer facing areas of the restaurant including but not limited to cooking, cleaning, expediting orders, washing dishes, prepping food for the line etc.
Essential Functions:
  • Prepares food for the line.
  • Assists higher level kitchen workers with food preparation duties.
  • Cleans kitchen surfaces, work areas, walls, floors, and restaurant equipment.
  • Cook, bake, and plate dishes as needed.

Requirements
  • Capable of a full range of body movement and possess good manual dexterity.
  • Good health, good eye sight and a good sense of smell.
  • Capable of lifting items weighing up to 50 pounds on a regular basis.
  • Capable of working in a high pressure and fast-moving environment.
  • Able to read, write and communicate in English.
  • Capable of dealing with sharp objects and high heats.
  • Able to stand for long periods of time, up to 5 hours.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • High school graduate with no prior work experience not necessary but helpful.

Work Schedule:
To Be Determined (19 hours per week)
All applicants must be available for an on-site interview at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, HI. Please note that the Polynesian Cultural Center will not provide relocation or travel expense reimbursements related to this application or hiring process.