Meet Lillian

Lillian Cumic is the author of the cookbooks- Hawai‘i A Vegan Paradise, Tasting Hawai‘i Vegan Style, and Hawai‘i Washoku, and a Hawai‘i-based vegan chef, columnist, and former model. She shares how to nourish your paradise from the inside out and the outside in, empowering you to live a conscious, vibrant, and healthy lifestyle.

Nourishing Paradise

Lillian grew up in Sydney, then moved to Japan for 30 years where she embraced the principles of Washoku—which translates to “the harmony of food.” She blends traditional Japanese flavors with island-inspired cuisine, all grounded in her passion for conscious, plant-based living. Her work inspires others to eat mindfully, live intentionally, and find balance in everyday life—nourishing not just the body, but the spirit and the world around them.

“If there's one chef who's proving that plant-based food can be exciting, creative, and delicious, Lillian Cumic. Like the elaborate Kaisei dinner, which is served with a lot of intention, Lillian shows the same deep thinking and creativity in creating these plant-based dishes that highlight Hawai'i's unique bounty.”

-Chef Sam Choy