My name is Amber Racoma and I am the proud owner/founder of Mama Dukes Hawaiian Barbeque! I cook and serve ono (delicious) home cooked meals that the locals from Hawai’i love to kaukau (eat). Hawai’i is a huge melting pot of all types of amazing ethnic foods that come together and create a memorable eating experience. And of course no forget, you gotta to have da rice brah! The name, “Mama Dukes”, comes from my fiance, Rob Jackson, who used to call my mother by that name and she absolutely adored him as well as the name. My beautiful mother who was born and raised on the island of Moloka’i, Charmaine Ka’ahanui aka “Sweet heart”, is the heart and soul of my business. She taught me everything I needed to know about cooking. When I became a teenager, I had to earn all of her recipes one by one. My mother would not provide another recipe to me till I mastered the current one. It was not easy since she was a very hard critic but it taught me how to cook and for that, I am forever grateful. The most important tip my mother told me is to always always cook with ALOHA, love. Without aloha, it just doesn’t taste the same without it. My mother and I were to go into this business together after she finished her chemotherapy. She passed away in February 2020 and I was completely lost without her. She was not only my mom but my best friend who I confided in the most. I let go of our business idea however, it never left my heart. After a year of this idea tugging at my heartstrings, I decided to take this journey full speed ahead and carry on her legacy to share our aloha with all of you. When I cook her recipes, it brings me back to my roots that I desperately yearn for and love to feel. I have been living in Indiana for most of my adult life so cooking authentic local food really helps me embrace my culture even more. It is my passion to not only cook but to eat as well so I will not serve anything I wouldn’t eat myself. I was blessed to be born and raised in Hawai’i on the island of O’ahu around an amazing ohana who showed me love every day. The true genuine aloha runs strong in my blood. I cannot wait to share my mother’s ono-licious food with you all! My mission is to not only cook and serve you ono food but to also bring our community of people together. The happenings in our world today have been segregating and bringing negativity to people and I am here to help bring more aloha in your lives. I appreciate all the love and support I have received over the years of my cooking for family and friends! I would not have this business without your support! Mahalo nui loa and please remember to give more aloha. People need it more than you know. You only live once in this life so follow your dreams and make this one count! As my mom would always say, “Mind yo business and just eat yo food” LOL Cheeeee hooooo!!
