ABOUT CHEF AHU

Chef Ahu Hettema is the owner and executive chef of Istanbul Hawai‘i, one of Hawai‘i’s leading Turkish and Mediterranean restaurants. Born in Mersin, Turkey, she grew up immersed in her mother Chef Nili’s kitchen, where over 30 years of culinary experience shaped her understanding of food and tradition.

While studying in San Francisco, immigration challenges prevented Ahu from returning home, leading her to reconnect with her heritage through cooking. In 2015, she and her mother began selling food at O‘ahu farmers markets, blending Ottoman traditions with Hawai‘i’s seasonal ingredients—a journey that led to the opening of Istanbul Hawai‘i in 2020, a restaurant she, her husband and her parents built from the ground up.

Her background in animation and visual effects informs her thoughtful approach to hospitality, where food, design, and storytelling come together with intention. Under her leadership, Istanbul Hawai‘i has earned recognition, including Honolulu Magazine’s Best Mediterranean Restaurant (2021–2024), Star Advertiser’s Best Mediterranean Restaurant (2021–2024), and SBA Women-Owned Business of the Year for Hawai‘i (2022).

As a James Beard Foundation Women’s Entrepreneur Leadership Fellow, Ahu continues to shape the conversation around food and entrepreneurship, bringing national visibility to modern Turkish cuisine while creating new opportunities rooted in tradition and innovation.