Jon Matsubara joins the culinary team at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, as the Chef de Cuisine for the new fine dining restaurant, Azure.

An award winning Chef, Matsubara brings an extraordinary background in the culinary industry to Azure. Hale Aina Winner of 2010 Hawaii's Best New Restaurant for AZURE restaurant. And most recently an Executive Chef for the Stage Restaurant, Matsubara was instrumental in the design of the restaurant, wine bar, café and event center. He managed the culinary staff and was responsible for the daily operations of the four outlets. While at Stage, Matsubara received the Ilima Award for Best New Restaurant, Critics' Choice; Hale 'Aina Award for Best New Oahu Restaurant, Silver, both in 2007; and the Ilima Award for the Best Hotel Restaurant Neighbor Island for the Canoe House Restaurant at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel in Kohala, Hawaii in 2005.

Chef Matsubara started his culinary career at Roy's Restaurant, honed his skills as Chef de Cuisine of Canoe House Restaurant in the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel; served as Chef de Partie in the famed New York kitchens of Restaurant Jean Georges, Tabla, Bouley and Honolulu's acclaimed Alan Wong's Restaurant.

Matsubara attended the French Culinary Institute in New York, and graduated with distinctions and an award for perfect attendance from the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Native American History.