Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection is thrilled to announce Mark Stanford as the new General
Manager of its storied oceanfront restaurant, CanoeHouse, a legendary culinary destination hailed as one of the best restaurants in Hawai’i for its creative farm-to-table cuisine, historic roots, and stunning ocean views.
With a dynamic background in the food and beverage industry, Mark will oversee all day-to-day operations at CanoeHouse, lead its restaurant team, and foster personal connection with guests and Mauna Lani’s local community.
Mark’s journey through the culinary world has taken him across the United States, where he’s led restaurant teams in major American food cities like Philadelphia and New York City, in addition to stints in Colorado, where he earned the state’s “Restaurant Manager of the Year” award for his work at Truffle Pig in Steamboat Springs. In his latest roles, Mark served as Beverage Director for the Steamboat Food & Wine Festival and the Telluride Reserve culinary festival.
CanoeHouse’s new General Manager is also an award-winning developmental mixologist with a number of competition prizes under his belt, including 1st place at Knob Creek’s Old Fashioned Competition and 3rd place at the Patron Hacienda in Jalisco, Mexico.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mark to our Mauna Lani ‘ohana,” says Pete Alles, General Manager of the Mauna Lani resort. “Besides his industry expertise, Mark brings a heartfelt passion for crafting world-class dining experiences — exactly what we strive for at CanoeHouse. We know he will bring exceptional ideas and a unique leadership style to our legendary restaurant.”
“CanoeHouse is such an iconic staple in the community,” says Mark Stanford. “It’s where people from all walks of life come together to celebrate big moments and make memories. I’m so excited to be a part of this restaurant’s legacy and meet my new community over Chef Mark Libunao’s amazing food and drinks.”
Mark arrives to the Big Island by way of Missoula, Montana, where he spent nearly 10 years exploring the countryside and Colorado ski towns. An avid adventure-seeker and fly fishing enthusiast, Mark has also coached on the U.S. Snowboard Team, where he trained professional athletes for the X Games and the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
