Pili Group
Pili Group is a Honolulu-based culinary services firm founded by Chef Mark Noguchi that designs bespoke catering events, private cooking classes, and volunteer work days rooted in Hawaiian ʻāina-based philosophy and hyper-local sourcing, serving private individuals, corporate clients, and international conferences.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersHonolulu, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Pili Group does
Pili Group is a privately held culinary and hospitality company headquartered in Honolulu, Hawai'i, founded in 2014 by Chef Mark "Gooch" Noguchi and Amanda Corby Noguchi, with current operational leadership by Chef Nick Erker. The company creates bespoke culinary experiences — catering and events for private dinners through international conferences, private cooking classes, and volunteer work days — all unified by an ʻāina-based philosophy that emphasizes hyper-local sourcing from a curated network of Hawaiian farmers, fishermen, and food producers. Its commercial activity rests on chef expertise, cultural storytelling rooted in Hawaiian tradition (notably Noguchi's training in hula under Nālani Kanakaʻole), and deep relationships within the local food community rather than proprietary technology or standardized product offerings.
Pili Group operates as a professional services business with a direct, inquiry-based sales motion: prospective customers reach out via the website to commission custom events and receive quote-based pricing. The company generates revenue from three core service lines — Catering & Culinary Events, Private Classes, and Work Days — and is also associated with notable past projects including He'eia Kea Pier General Store & Deli, Taste Table, and MISSION Social Hall & Cafe, the latter recognized by Taste Talks as one of six best museum cafes in North America. There is no e-commerce channel, no disclosed pricing, no technology platform, and no external institutional funding; the business appears bootstrapped and founder-controlled.
The company's primary web presence is hosted within the Under My Umbrella collective platform rather than a standalone site, indicating deliberate co-branding with the broader Hawaiian hospitality ʻohana. Geographic footprint is concentrated in Hawai'i, though the company has served international conferences, suggesting event-based rather than permanent geographic reach. With 11–50 employees and no disclosed revenue, Pili Group is a small, culture-anchored culinary services firm whose defensibility rests on intangible cultural assets, chef reputation, and supplier ecosystem rather than technology or scale.
Pili Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pili Group
- Legal name
- Pili Group
- Website
- https://thepiligroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pili Group is a Honolulu-based culinary services firm founded by Chef Mark Noguchi that designs bespoke catering events, private cooking classes, and volunteer work days rooted in Hawaiian ʻāina-based philosophy and hyper-local sourcing, serving private individuals, corporate clients, and international conferences.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pili Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Culinary Services
- NAICS
- Caterers (722320), Food Service Contractors (722310)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty & Dietary Catering (Halal, Kosher, Vegan, Allergen-Free, Medical) (THAHAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Culinary Skills Workshops (Baking, Regional Cooking, Food Prep Skills) (THAJAKAE)
Keywords
Where Pili Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Honolulu
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Pili Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Catering & Culinary Events: Revenue generated from private dining events, corporate functions, and international conferences. The company creates customized culinary experiences using locally-sourced ingredients from their network of co-producers.
- Private Cooking Classes: Revenue from hosting cooking classes for families, co-workers, and friend groups. Classes emphasize Hawaiian cuisine and cultural education in a social, recreational setting.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Pili Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pili Group creates thoughtfully curated culinary experiences that connect guests to Hawai'i through food, story, and place. Its three core offerings are Catering & Culinary Events (ranging from private dinners to international conferences using hyper-local ingredients from a network of local co-producers), Private Classes (relaxed cooking sessions for families, co-workers, and friends centered on Hawaiian cuisine), and Work Days (community volunteer experiences alongside local food producers and environmental stewards).
Product overview
Pili Group is a culinary and hospitality company that operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The company's core services include Catering & Culinary Events, Private Classes, and Work Days — each designed to connect guests to Hawai'i through food, story, and place. Past projects include He'eia Kea Pier General Store & Deli (known for hyper-local sourcing), Taste Table (a food scene revitalization space in Kaka'ako), and MISSION Social Hall & Cafe (a museum cafe). All offerings are rooted in an 'āina-based philosophy, honoring the land, cultural practices, and seasonal rhythms of Hawai'i.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Catering & Culinary Events
Companies that use Pili Group
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Pili Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Pili Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Family of Local Co-producerscorePili Group works with a network of local co-producers who supply hyper-local ingredients for their culinary experiences. This network of farmers, fishermen, and food producers forms the foundation of their supply chain and enables the 'āina-based philosophy of honoring local land and stewardship.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights4 records
Pili Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Cozymeal: Online marketplace connecting consumers with in-person cooking classes and culinary experiences. Comparable to Pili Group's private classes line, though Cozymeal operates a marketplace while Pili Group runs classes directly.
Broad incumbents
- Senia: Hawaiian fine dining restaurant in Honolulu by chef Chris Kajioka. Comparable to Pili Group as a Honolulu-based high-end culinary brand emphasizing local ingredients and place-based storytelling.
- The Pig and the Lady: Acclaimed Honolulu restaurant offering curated Vietnamese-Hawaiian cuisine with off-premise catering. Comparable to Pili Group as a Honolulu-based culinary brand, though anchored in a fixed restaurant location.
- MW Restaurant: Honolulu farm-to-table restaurant focused on Hawaiian regional cuisine. Comparable to Pili Group through its Hawaiian ingredient sourcing and dining-as-cultural-experience positioning.
- Chef Mavro: Long-established Honolulu fine-dining restaurant rooted in Hawaiian and Mediterranean cuisine. Comparable to Pili Group as a seasoned Honolulu culinary brand operating in the premium local-cuisine segment.
- Mud Hen Water: Hawaiian eatery in Honolulu emphasizing local sourcing and cultural roots. Comparable to Pili Group as part of the Honolulu culinary scene with shared place-based, local-ingredient ethos.
Direct peers
- 24 Carrots Catering & Events: Special-event catering company serving weddings and corporate events with a focus on locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients. Comparable to Pili Group in its bespoke, high-touch catering model and curated sourcing philosophy.
- Bite Catering Couture: Boutique event caterer emphasizing custom menus and culinary storytelling for corporate and private events. Closely parallels Pili Group's bespoke catering and ingredient-driven positioning.
- Heirloom LA: California-based catering and cooking class company offering both event catering and hands-on culinary experiences. Directly comparable to Pili Group's combined catering + private classes model.
Regional players
- Hawaii Food Tours: Curated food and cultural tours in Honolulu. Comparable to Pili Group's cultural-experience work, though delivered as scheduled group tours rather than bespoke private events.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pili Group social profiles
Digital presencePili Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pili Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Pili Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pili Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pili Group
What does Pili Group do?
Pili Group creates thoughtfully curated culinary experiences that connect guests to Hawai'i through food, story, and place. Its three core offerings are Catering & Culinary Events (ranging from private dinners to international conferences using hyper-local ingredients from a network of local co-producers), Private Classes (relaxed cooking sessions for families, co-workers, and friends centered on Hawaiian cuisine), and Work Days (community volunteer experiences alongside local food producers and environmental stewards).
Is Pili Group a public or private company?
Pili Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Pili Group founded?
Pili Group was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pili Group based?
Pili Group is headquartered in Honolulu, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pili Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Catering & Culinary Events are the primary driver. The others are private Cooking Classes.
Who are Pili Group's main competitors?
Cozymeal is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Senia, The Pig and the Lady, MW Restaurant, Chef Mavro and Mud Hen Water. Direct peers are 24 Carrots Catering & Events, Bite Catering Couture and Heirloom LA. Hawaii Food Tours is listed as a regional player.
Does Pili Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pili Group.
What industry is Pili Group in?
Pili Group's product category is Culinary Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAKAK, Specialty & Dietary Catering (Halal, Kosher, Vegan, Allergen-Free, Medical), with a secondary code of THAJAKAE, Culinary Skills Workshops (Baking, Regional Cooking, Food Prep Skills). Its NAICS code is 722320 and its SIC code is 5810.