Our Team

At Pili, we're family.

We envision a world where people of all different skill sets and origins can rally around the importance of love, passion and integrity in their work — and at home.

The strength and value of our staff is not defined by a certain cuisine, but by the quality of their character. We work hard, we play hard and we rest hard. We will always choose what is pono over what is popular.

Before anything else, we are family, and we intend to leave the world better than we found it. 

 

 

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“He ai leo ole, he ipuka hamama.
Food unaccompanied by a voice; a door always open.”
— `Ōlelo No`eau, 518

Mark Noguchi

Co-Founder & Executive Chef

Mark was born and raised in Mānoa Valley, O‘ahu. He spent his early twenties dancing hula with Hālau o Kekuhi under the tutelage of Nālani Kanaka`ole in Hilo. Mark credits hula’s strict regimen, strong attention to detail and deep sense of integrity with awakening his passion for a life of building community through food.

As a chef, Mark navigates Hawai`i through the lens of food, always with the intent to gather, connect and harmonize the communities he serves. At He‘eia Kea Pier General Store & Deli, his insistence on sourcing hyper-local ingredients garnered national acclaim. Through Taste Table, he helped revitalize the Kaka`ako food scene by providing a space for up-and-coming local chefs, many of whom are now nationally-renowned for their work. MISSION Social Hall & Cafe, Mark's most recent project, was published by Taste Talks as one of the six best museum cafes in North America.

In 2012, Mark and his wife Amanda Corby Noguchi started Pili Group, their life’s work. Pili is dedicated to creating a better world through food, education and community.

Despite the international acclaim his work has garnered, Mark’s focus remains being a dedicated husband, a father to his two daughters, and an exemplary leader to his team.

 

 

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“Ho`omoe wai kāhi ke kāko`o.
Let us all travel together like water flowing in one direction.”
— `Ōlelo No`eau, 1102

Amanda Corby Noguchi

Co-Founder & Creative Director

In 2009, Amanda launched Under My Umbrella (UMU) Inc. Less than a decade later, UMU has become one of the premier communications and event production companies in Hawai‘i. But, despite continuing to garner distinguished clients and national acclaim, UMU remains laser-focused on elevating the work of small, community-run organizations who seek to make the world a little bit better every day.

In 2012, Amanda founded Pili Group with her life and business partner, Mark Noguchi. The diverse community of farmers, fishermen and other food artisans that Amanda is building together with her husband has earned Pili Group national renown for its stewardship of native Hawaiian culture. Pili Group’s newest program, Food Therapy®, is helping folks throughout Hawai‘i rediscover their heritage through intimate, hands-on cooking groups.

Amanda is the proud mother of two daughters.

 

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“I maika`i ke kalo i ka `ohā. The goodness of the taro is judged by the young plant it produces.”
— `Ōlelo No`eau, 133

Our Team

The Pili team is a diverse, passionate group of dedicated individuals who are committed to building a better world through food. We employ a wide range of folks, but they all share one thing in common: Integrity.

Skills are important, but they mean nothing if they're not founded in a deep-rooted sense of responsibility and gratitude to one's community.

At Pili, our work is as much about what we do as it is about who we are as individuals, and as members of the community. The sum of all our work is defined by what we produce — it's not just about cooking. It's about community.

Sound like somewhere you'd thrive? Send us your résumé and cover letter →