James McDonald
Executive Chef, Pacific'O, I'o, and The Feast at Lele
Member since 1997
James, chef of Pacific’o and I’o restaurants on Maui, received the official state commendation for being named among the top 10 “Restaurants with Farm Connections” in the October 2007 issue of Gourmet magazine. James founded O’o Farm in 2000 with restaurant partners Louis Coulombe and Stephan Bel-Roberts. Their goal was to become self-sufficient and it’s working. Both restaurants now procure nearly 100% of salad greens and herbs from the farm.
James has also worked with an international network of chefs at Ritz-Carlton and Westin hotels and at the five-star Grand Hotel Quellenhof in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland. Currently, James oversees the kitchens at two Lahaina restaurants: Pacific'O and I'o, and the premier attraction, The Feast at Lele. I'o will be inducted into the Distinguished Restaurants of North America class of 2007. James was also voted "Maui's Best Chef" of 1998 by The Maui News.