Corner Store Kauai Cooking Class

Fabulous experience with Aletha and our class of 10 participants! The array and recipes and the timing of each steps was well-planned and delicious. Aletha ensured everyone was able to participate as much as they wished (e.g. no raw fish cutting for the vegetarian!) and everyone felt involved and excited to learn. I’m a total convert to spam musubi. Highly recommend!!

Amazing experience, the atmosphere was amazing and so was the chef. If you are looking to learn a new dish and enjoy some great stories and history while eating the amazing food you just made this is definitely the experience you want to book. Thank you for a great meal and some amazing memories we can’t wait to go back home and try these recipes out again.

We had the most amazing time at our cooking class! It was my 13 year old son’s first time taking a cooking class. He absolutely loved it. Aletha is a warm, patient, and kind chef and welcoming hostess. The food was delicious. Recipes easy to follow, most importantly, stories and customs that accompany them. My favorite part of traveling is immersing myself in local customs and trying to learn about communities, whether it be through cooking, local dances, calligraphy, pottery, etc. Sign up for this, you won’t regret it!

We had such a great time with you! We learned about local traditional, history of the island, food culture and some serious rules about Musubi :) The food was delicious especially the butter mochi and the poke ! Merci !!!!

Beautiful kitchen to prepare a 4 course meal of Hawaii favorites. Get a real feel of the culture and learn some history behind Hawaiian cuisine with hands on opportunities for everyone.

So glad to have found this class. Very fun. Well organized and educational. Good selection of local foods to prepare. Hands on. Recipes provided to make again at home. This was my first Musumi...to eat and to make. (Gotta try local eats when you travel.) I love poke but had never before made it....entire meal was lovely. Absolutely recommended this 3 hour class if you are a foodie or if you just want a different local experience.

Great experience- really enjoyed the class and hearing about the history and significance of the food we were preparing and eating. Everything we did was very approachable for us, and it was a great start to our tip in Kauai

This is a hidden gem! You have to go! I have gone to many cooking classes all over the world Japan, Italy, etc. and this was one of my favorites!

It was amazing. We had fun. We learned a lot. We made a lot of yummy food and everyone is really nice.

This Indian food cooking class was informative, fun and TASTY! I love how every person there is apart of cooking each recipe that Aletha teaches at the class. The recipes were approachable, and the food was delicious! My husband and I already cook some Indian dishes at home, but Aletha taught tips I didn't know or ways to make recipes easier. I love the small groups for the class too. Definitely recommend!

The volume of historical context to accompany the local dishes was wonderful. It made the cooking experience absolutely terrific! We should have eaten more poke so less went to waste!

Super fun experience that feels like a bunch of friends getting together to cook with a great teacher! Our particular class focused on Indian foods. The style of the class facilitates comradery and hands-on learning. I highly recommend this activity to visitors, groups of friends, or individuals looking to expand their cooking knowledge and make some new friends!

Great time at Cooking Kauai. Althea and her daughter welcomed us into her ohana kitchen for a delicious peek into Kauai-inspired dishes. Hands on small class size made all the difference for delightful conversation and storytelling and learning about Kauai. Highly recommend this 3 hour class rain or shine!

My two friends and I had a wonderful experience at the local Hawaiian cuisine cooking class. Aletha was excellent and made the class both enjoyable and meaningful. She wove local customs and history into the lesson, which made learning about the dishes even more interesting. The food we prepared was absolutely delicious, and Aletha explained each step clearly so everyone could follow along. We especially appreciated her nice, patient teaching manner—because it created a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for everyone in the class. Overall, it was a fantastic experience that combined culture, history, and great food. We would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to learn more about local cuisine in a fun and engaging way.

What a fun experience with Cooking Kauai! I felt so fortunate to be part of the first ever online Zoom class with Aletha who has been spreading the culture, and food of the island for many years now. The class was well organized and directions were easy to follow - especially with the recipes, list of ingredients, and necessary equipment sent in advance. It felt like we were all in the same room (about 10 people) talking, cooking, and having a great time making traditional musubi and butter mochi. Can’t wait for the next class!

Aletha is experimenting with virtual classes so I signed up to be a guinea pig. She explained everything throughly and the steps and instructions were easy to follow. She made it fun by telling stories about how spam musubi came to be, how to properly pronounce it, and why Kaua’i style was the best. There was also an alternative of using tofu instead of spam. The most wonderful part was eating the results! I’m not a big fan of mochi but this butter mochi is something else. I had to practice severe self restraint to stop eating it. And she was right, cooking it in a muffin tin is best to get the max crunchy part. I predict that the virtual classes are going to be a hit.

Althea did a wonderful job instructing and sharing information about the food and people of Kauai. The ingredients were fresh and appealing. The food was delicious.

This was a top shelf cooking class. Hands on instructions. The food we made was very good and good quality.

My wife and I had such a fantastic experience at Corner Cooking Kauai! The class was not only incredibly fun, but also genuinely educational. The class was fully hands-on, and we were chopping, mixing, seasoning, and assembling right alongside everyone else, which made it feel immersive and engaging. We learned how to make poke, musubi, a fresh local-style salad, and a delicious dessert. Everything was approachable but still felt authentic and rooted in local tradition. One of our favorite parts was hearing the local stories behind the dishes and ingredients — it added so much depth and context to what we were cooking and eating. Aletha did a great job making sure everyone participated and felt comfortable. The atmosphere was relaxed, welcoming, and fun. We would absolutely recommend Corner Store Kauai Cooking to anyone visiting Kauai who wants a meaningful, hands-on culinary experience. It was one of the highlights of our trip!

The cooking class was one of my highlights of the trip! Aletha was an amazing teacher, it was a very hands-on experience, and I learned about history and culture while eating delicious food! I will be making these recipes at home and I HIGHLY recommend this class to everyone who wants an amazing cultural experience!

We had a fantastic time at our cooking class with Aletha. She was informative, entertaining and delightful! I would highly recommend!!

This was a really lovely experience. She opened her heart and home, and we learned about Kauaiian food and culture. Highly recommend!!

What a great cooking experience! Aletha was knowledgeable and extremely friendly. Great atmosphere and very fun. Mahalo

Such a fun way to spend a few hours making Hawaiian style foods and learning about Kauai. We made 4 different dishes of which we’ll be making again once home. The kitchen was clean and everything was prepared ahead of time for ease and efficiency. We participated in putting together the dishes and then tasted them. Her instructions were easy to follow even if you were initially not comfortable working with item. Althea was professional, warm, and welcoming. Next time visiting the island we’ll be doing another class.

We've done many cooking classes on our travels, and this was among the best. Great local menu, lots of interesting information about the local culture, excellent facility, and a fun menu. Highly recommend.

This was a really fun experience. Aletha shared some of her knowledge of Kauai as well as her cooking knowledge with us. we had a wonderful lunch. I would strongly recommend this for anyone interested in learning how to prepare some favorite local foods. I would suggest you enroll for a class early in your visit, because Aletha offers so many tips on places to go/ things to do you will want to have plenty of time to take advantage.

Very nice introduction to local cuisine and history from our host Aletha. We appreciated the detailed recipes that we could take home as well as alternatives we could apply once we get home if we can’t find the specific ingredients. Demonstration, and lots of hands on was very nice. Aletha’s daughter, Anneka was very sweet and helpful as the class progressed. Very clean and well organized. The class setting was gorgeous. We definitely encourage all to take part in this experience, families, couples, single travelers…it is definitely for everyone!

We had the best time at our cooking class. It felt like a really authentic Kaua’i experience. The food was delicious… go hungry!!! We loved the little kitchen cabin she has set up. Highly recommended!

Food was delicious, fresh, and plentiful! You did not leave hungry and was even told to take some home. It was a great evening with friends and the music was great!

Better than expected. A nice blend of cooking talking about local tradition and Hawaiian culture. Making the food was fun but eating it was even better.

We loved the cooking class! Aletha was organized, knowledgeable and so warm and friendly. All the food was connected to the culture and history of Kauai. We learned so much and feel like we have a deeper understanding and respect for the Hawaiian culture. The meals were simple and so good! My only regret is that we won’t be here to try another one of her classes.

Aletha’s cooking class was exactly the kind of experience I look for when traveling—real, personal, and far from anything touristy. She welcomed us into her home with genuine warmth, and cooking alongside her felt like spending time with friends. She shared stories about the island, its traditions, and the meaning behind each dish in a simple, authentic way. The food was delicious, and she went out of her way to create thoughtful vegetarian options that felt just as rooted in local flavors. If you’re an unconventional traveler who wants connection instead of crowds, this is a wonderful and memorable experience. Highly recommended.

We attending a cooking class led by Aletha. She was well organized, kept the class going at a good pace, and she drew everyone into the class. She connected the importance of the dishes to Hawaiian culture. She selected easy dishes and gave us the recipes so we could duplicate at home. If you are interested in Hawaiian culture and Hawaiian food and cooking, I highly recommend this activity.

Aletha is a delightful chef and full of so many tips and insights regarding Hawaiian cuisine! My daughter and I enjoy cooking. The bonus was a delightful meal with great company at the end. Thank you Aletha!

Wonderful experience. Great recipes and food. Good, patient instruction. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wonderful experience! Aletha was welcoming and knowledgeable! ********+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We had such a great experience with Aletha at the Corner Store Cooking Class. Dishes were approachable and very representative of Hawai'i. Plenty of food and she also gave us extras to take with us. We also appreciated her discussion on life on the island and the culture. She gave us many recommendations that helped us plan the rest of our trip. Would highly recommend this class!

What a fun and informative cooking class. The setting is so comfortable and a perfect homey feel for the class. Learned a lot of local stories and tips. Looking forward to making my own poke at home now.

This class was such a fun experience and a great way to get immersed in some Kauaiian culture! In addition to learning some things about Kauai and the people of Kauai (Kanaka Maoli), we were able to make a delicious lunch featuring 4 different items created from the recipes provided to us. Everyone gets to participate and the environment is fun and laid back. (Food allergies and preferences are taken into consideration as well.) The best thing is that you get to take the recipe home with you to recreate and share memories after your vacation. My husband and I are foodies and during the week we spent in Hawaii, this was our favorite activity by far! I highly recommend trying this class if you are wanting do more than just sightsee or lay on the beach.

Corner Store Cooking Kauai On Tuesday March 25, 2025, we had the most wonderful experience at Corner Store Cooking Kauai with Aletha. Aletha’s easy going, welcoming style of teaching shines through. She educated us on Hawaiian language and how to pronounce words to “not sound like a foreigner”, and on the culture of Kauai, all while demonstrating how to prepare Spam Musubi, the Kauai way, Butter Mochi, Somen Salad and Poke Bowls, two different ways. Her cooking class takes place in her beautiful back yard guest house, called "Ohana houses” and the full kitchen can accommodate up to 12 participants around the stainless steel counters. Our class was a cozy 6 with a family of 4 joining us. Aletha demonstrated then assigned chopping, peeling, mixing, stirring and frying duties to each one of us. With Aletha guiding the way, we felt like we had made new friends from Wisconsin, while working together and finally enjoying the lunch we had created. It was delicious!! We have vacationed on Kauai many times and driven by the salt ponds. Aletha gave us a lesson on the culture and history of the salt ponds…fascinating…we have driven by the Salt Ponds and had no idea that the “Hawaiian salt” we purchased in the stores was not from the salt ponds . We have taken cooking classes all around the world, Italy, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and multiple classes in Oregon. Aletha’s class was one of our favorites!! We highly recommend this class in the Koloa area of Kauai.

My Fiancé and I had an incredible experience. The Chef, Alitha, is very knowledgeable, patient, and accommodating. Her style and atmosphere she’s made definitely makes you want to come back for more. Alitha has been teaching for over 10 years now and it absolutely shows. Whenever we started a new dish she had an assortment of information to delve into which was really captivating. Along with, the class felt like a one stop shop to find all of the best food and coffee recommendations on the island. After my Fiancé and I got done with the class we had more than enough activities for our next adventure to Kauai. The location is a treasure as the cooking class is actually behind their home. Thank you Alitha! We can’t wait to come back! 🛫👨‍🍳🤩

My husband and I, teens and young adult family and friends have had the best time at Cooking Kauai’s classes. Aletha and her guest chefs are a good blend of friendly and relaxed but also professional and the classes include both demos and hands on activities (and snacks!). The instruction is good for beginners - tho seasoned cooks, like my mom :), also come away with new tips, techniques and recipes. The classes are a fun, delicious and memorable Kauai event.

This was the most amazing experience! My family and I did both the farmer's market and the corner store class - both were spectacular and all of the food was so yummy. Aletha is extremely knowledgeable about Kauai and all of the dishes we were cooking. When we went shopping around the farmers market, you could tell she is really a part of the community and knew many of the sellers. Some of my favorite things that we cooked are the homemade pesto, yogurt and charred tomatoes, spam musubi, and the somen salad. We have been coming to Kauai for 20 years and this is one of my favorite activities we've done! I would highly recommend!

I attended the Corner Store cooking class with my daughters and granddaughters and we all enjoyed it. In addition to teaching us how to make four classic Kauai recipes, Aletha provided interesting information about the island. She also made accommodations for one of our group with dietary restrictions. I highly recommend setting aside a few hours for this experience when you visit Kauai - you won't regret it!