EXECUTIVE CHEF

Thomas Naylor is the founder of Ke Nui Kitchen. Naylor was raised in the restaurant business. Starting with his grandfather Tiny, and continuing with his father and uncles, the Naylor name is synonymous with food culture and business dating back to 1924 in California and Nevada. With over fifteen years of experience in the food & special events industry, Thomas cultivated a hard-working selected group of chefs that have 100 years of shared experience working with Local food, New American, Farm-to-table, Pan Pacific, Latin, Peruvian, and Mediterranean. On the North Shore, and rippling throughout Oahu, Thomas has garnered a reputation for excellence in culinary services, and, most notably a commitment to his clientele.

CHEF TO CUISINE

Executive Chef Daniel Morias has been with Ke Nui Kitchen since 2019. Chef Morias began his culinary journey at Santa Barbara City College and moved on to being the Executive chef of Corrientes 348 Steak House in Brazil, and Head Chef of Maki Boat at Mentawai, Indonesia. With over 12 years of experience, his skill and expertise is what allows our kitchen to grow and develop new culinary ideas. After many years of travel and restaurant experience, he now calls Hawaii home and looks to continue his passion at Ke Nui Kitchen alongside Thomas.

EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF

Moana Lane was born and raised here on the North Shore. She started working for Thomas’ Father in 2008 at a local food truck. Here she learned basic cooking skills and was able to apply this knowledge to Ke Nui Kitchen where she began her journey into the vast world of culinary! Moana has spent many years learning the art of cuisine and has also trained for three years in the pastry department. In the future, Moana hopes to be able to travel the world and learn the authentic flavors of many different countries so she can bring those techniques home and incorporate them into her dishes. Moana’s Lifelong dream is to bring a cozy little brunch spot to her hometown of Haleiwa!

PASTRY CHEF

Chef Caroline has been working with Naylor since 2015 but has around 15 years of catering and pastry experience. Her education started with Studying pastry at Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as Ecole Nationale de Patisserie in Yssingeaux, France. From there, she moved to Oahu, beginning her career at Ke Nui Kitchen. She is inspired by combining classic French techniques with local Pacific flavors and looks forward to providing allergy-friendly options for our customers.

SALES MANAGER

Mikhaila Martinov is the Sales Manager at Ke Nui Kitchen in Waimea Valley and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. John’s University. With more than 6 years of sales and customer service experience, she is a seasoned professional specializing in hospitality, events, and sales. For the last year and a half with Ke Nui Kitchen, she has led with a team mentality that embodies positivity while providing an optimal level of service to individual and corporate clients. She is skilled in developing customized catering solutions, managing high-profile events, and building long-term client relationships. Her diverse experience in the event industry along with her ability to motivate staff allows her to be a strong and effective leader with an immense passion for all things events! Mikhaila is continuously educating herself on every aspect of the events industry as well as industry trends to make sure that she can continue to grow as a Sales Professional and ensure that Ke Nui Kitchen remains the premier caterer on the North Shore of Oahu.

PRODUCTION LEAD

Hailey Mesner has been with Ke Nui since December 2022. She studied Hospitality and Tourism Management at Grand Valley State University. Hailey manages all of the on-the-ground staff, set up and break down of events, and all the little details in between. She has an attention to detail that will help bring your vision for your event to life! Each day she works towards creating the most organized and aesthetic events Oahu has to offer.

SALES AND MARKETING ASSOCIATE

Eva Dunn contributes to KNK’s Sales and Marketing team, having joined the company in 2022. Over time she has cultivated expertise in the food industry and client relations. Driven by a passion for art and creativity, Eva infuses her work with her artistic talents. With five years of food and beverage experience, Eva applies her knowledge to event planning, developing new marketing strategies, and resolving challenges. Her aspirations entail furthering her career in marketing, and fostering relationships with other businesses and clientele, with the ultimate ambition of launching her own venture someday.