This May, Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) proudly presents a special archival broadcast of Chan’s beloved series Aloha China, airing May 13 at 10 p.m. 

Titus Chan, a pioneering Chinese- American chef, played a vital role in introducing authentic Chinese cuisine to American households. Born in Canton, China, Chan immigrated to the U.S. in 1954, earning degrees in literature and education before settling in Honolulu. There, he made a name for himself as a respected chef at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and a popular cooking instructor at the University of Hawaii. His success in the classroom would eventually lead him to the national spotlight through public television. 

In 1983, Chan approached the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television (now MPB) with his concept: a series that would blend step-by-step Chinese cooking demonstrations with the stunning backdrop and cultural richness of Hawaii. Bringing in a crew from Mississippi would surprisingly be more cost effective hiring one locally. In the partnership, MPB would receive the rights to distribute nationally through PBS, while Chan retained the option to market it commercially.