Funny thing about cooking. Two chefs can follow the exact same recipe, using the same ingredients from the same sources, and following the same precise steps and identical equipment. But in the end, one dish brims with flavor and succulence, while the other dish just kind of sits there on the plate. What accounts for this difference?

Many Hawaiian gourmets would venture to say that the second chef forgot to put in the ultimate secret ingredient:  the Aloha. “Cooking with love makes all the difference,” declares one talented artist of the kitchen. “With really good, satisfying food you can absolutely taste the love that went into it.”

The same is true of designing a great Hawaiian kitchen: the Aloha makes all the difference. Any competent interior designer knows that a functional work triangle, top quality appliances, upscale materials, and tasteful cabinetry and lighting all contribute to a beautiful yet efficient cooking and gathering space. Still, for an outstanding kitchen that is a joy to work or socialize in, a great designer must begin with that indispensable secret ingredient – the Aloha.

Aloha in kitchen design, especially in upscale Hawaiian luxury homes, often grows from designers allowing themselves to become inspired by the 'aina, the land, and enchanted by the views of sky, sea, and greenery. When a kitchen design begins with respect and affection for Hawai‘i itself, a firm foundation has been laid. Next comes placing the chef’s work zone to capitalize on those views, ensuring that nothing is allowed to block sightlines to the all-important outdoors.

Aloha in kitchen design also means remembering that a kitchen is far more than just a utilitarian space. Perhaps even more than in most homes elsewhere, a Hawaiiian kitchen is a focal point for social gatherings. In today’s Island residences, a true great room often begins with an open floor plan that allows the living and dining areas to flow into the kitchen -- not only in terms of opening up sightlines, but also in terms of enabling a flow of conversation as the chef chats easily with guests, and a flow of movement as guests easily mingle around the gathering table or breakfast bar.

This month, the editors of Hawaiian Style are proud to present two outstanding kitchens designed by Carol Ann von Hake of Kitchens & Interiors by von Hake, Ltd. and by Valorie Spence of Interior Design Solutions. Both kitchens gracefully meld contemporary and traditional elements. Both are brimming with Aloha for Hawai’I itself, and for the warmth and sociability of a kitchen as the home’s ultimate welcoming center. Finally, both kitchens exemplify the designers’ penchant for elegance and understated simplicity.

During the creative phase in great kitchen design, as in great cooking, Aloha may be an invisible ingredient. But in the end, its results are unmistakably obvious to one and all.