Harvesting Kauai Shrimp on the westside. Daniel Lane photo

Orchid Alley’s Dendrobia nobile smells a little like honeysuckle. Daniel Lane photo

After our Waipa tour, Lynn Madigan (right) revisits to make poi. Marta Lane photo

Haku are head lei that can also be worn around the brim of a hat or on the wrist or ankle. Daniel Lane photo

Lei Day

Kauai Museum, 9:30 a.m. tp 5 p.m., free
Kauai Museum’s Annual May Day Lei Contest has been the benchmark of lei-making on Kaua`i for the past 33 years. Enjoy live Hawaiian music, lei-making demos, workshops, free aloha lomi massages, food booths, shave ice, baked goods, silent and live lei auctions, and all day long donations for chances to win.
9:30 a.m. Hawaiian music and entertainment outside. 10 a.m. doors open. Noon, awards ceremony. 1 p.m. live auction. 5 p.m. museum closes.

Kauai Community Farmers Market

9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.(extended 1 hour), Kauai Community College Campus
Special Mother’s Day Celebration! The market will be co hosting a Mother’s Day celebration with Kauai Made crafts, gifts and sweets in addition to our Kauai Grown items to promote gift giving. It’s also a great time to look for local products for graduation.

Bouquets by Tropical Flowers Express. Daniel Lane photo

• Mauro Politi from Hanalei Pasta will be featuring creme brulee and chocolate mousse in addition to his Italian pastas and sauces
• Midnight Bear Bakery will be featuring their new chocolate croissants
• Hula Baby Biscotti and Ko Bakery will be featuring their new cakes to order, including special flavors for Mother’s Day. Come to sample, and order for next week.
• Tropical Flowers Express will have floral specials to pickup or for delivery, they are certified to deliver to Mainland
• Also check out Elvrine Chow (haku lei) and Laurena Silva (arrangements). Elvrine will be back and forth as she does May Day Lei Day contest at the Museum
• Enter the Monkeypod Jam contest to win gifts for Mom
• There will also be a variety of gifts from the market including gift certificates and other items you can win in our prize drawing

For those who enjoy Cinco De Mayo is next day, so in addition to John Cabello’s Puerto Rican Tacos we also will be having Rafael’s Aloha Tacos debuting his food truck. Come early for food and get into the spirit.
Sunday, May 5

Cinco de Mayo Celebrations

Verde
Tequila Tasting and Paring, $15
Tanteo Tequila tasting of Jalapeno, Tropical and Cocoa flavors
Taco Bites – Homemade sopaipilla, carne pork adovada with blue agave drizzle
 

Tortilla Republic’s Poipu Heat Margarita. Daniel Lane photo

Kilauea Lighthouse 100th Anniversary Celebration

10 am.n to 4 p.m., free
This community celebration begins with a parade through Kilauea town and ending at Kilauea Park. There will be a concert, food, game booths, water slides, hula, a lighthouse slide show, an art show and a lighthouse keeper’s reunion. The Kilauea Lighthouse Centennial Celebration began May 1 and ends May 5. Daily guided tours of the lighthouse offer a close up view of the interior of the restored Kīlauea Lighthouse. For more information, visit the Kilauea Point Natural History Association website.

The History of Kauai and Hanalei

Luau, Hanalei Lawn, 5 ro 8:15 p.m., $120
The Westin Princeville celebrates their five-year anniversary with a special luau. Hula Halau Na Hula O Kaohikukapulani and their Kumu Hula Kapu Kinimaka– Alquiza have put together a very special program honoring the history of Hanalei and the island of Kauai. Cocktails and live music begin at 5 p.m. with a dinner buffet and show to follow. Complementary valet parking at the Westin Princeville. For reservations call 808-827-8808.
Monday, May 6

Morgan Vineyard Wine Dinner

5:30 p.m., $85
The Wine Shop in Koloa, and RumFire at the Sheraton Kauai Resort, is hosting a wine event featuring a 4-course dinner paired with wines from winemaker, Morgan Vineyards.

• 1st Course ~ Butter Poached Kauai Shrimp, Morgan Sauvignon Blanc, California 2011
• 2nd Course ~ Prosciutto Wrapped Diver Scallop, Morgan Chardonnay “Highlands”, Monterey, California 2010
• 3rd Course ~ Sonoma Valley Duck Breast, Morgan Pinot Noir “12 Clones”, Monterey, California 2011
• 4th Course ~ Roasted Kauai Rack of Lamb, Morgan “Cote du Crow’s” Grenache/Syrah, Monterey, California 2010

For reservations contact RumFire at 808-742-4RUM.
 

Breezy and beautiful gourmet lunch and cooking demonstration at the Kauai Marriott Resort. Daniel Lane photo

A Culinary Romp Through Paradise

Various locations in Kapaa, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., $130
Tasting Kauai’s Culinary Tour offers an intimate glimpse into the Garden Island’s culinary scene. We start with a farm tour and learn about exotic fruit grown on Kauai. At the Kauai Marriott Resort, we join executive chef Guy Higa for an outdoor cooking demonstration and gourmet, four-course lunch made with Kauai grown ingredients. Our last stop is at The Feral Pig, where Bob Gunter, president of the Koloa Rum Co., will give a presentation about the award-winning rum.  Afterwards, we’ll have two cocktails at The Feral Pig featuring Koloa Rum and seasonal produce.  You can read what LandingStanding said about this tour, or visit our Kauai Culinary Tours page. We have a Facebook photo album that shows how much fun the tour is, and our 5-Star TripAdvisor reviews. Chef Higa donates proceeds from his portion of the tour to the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen. For a complete list of 2013 dates, check out our Kauai Culinary Tours Calendar. Call 808-635-0257 to make a reservation.
Saturday, May 11

Kauai Community Market

9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bring mom to the Kauai Community Market and focus is on things you can do for Mom this weekend. Make breakfast in bed with the Midnight Bear breads and croissants, Monkeypod Jams and Moloaa Bay Coffee and Kunana Dairy Goat cheese along with varieties of tropical fresh fruits and greens from the market. There will be flowers with special demonstrations:

• Elvrine Chow of Heavenly Hakus will be doing a haku lei demonstration in the “hale” at 10:30am
• Jen Ortal will be doing a special plumeria lei activity for keiki – to make a lei for your mom for Mothers Day
• Kawaikini kids will be doing a floral bouquet fundraiser
• Terry Gordines always sells out of her bouquets, so come early
• Laurena Silva should also be there with her arrrangements

Sunday, May 12, Mother’s Day

Collin Darrell at the 2012 Kauai County Farm Fair Cook off with cotton candy made from local beets. Daniel Lane photo

Pop-up Dinner

Na Aina Kai, 5 to 8 p.m., $85 per person
Grow Culture is featuring a six-course progressive meal will be served tapas-style and the food will be paired with wines from Spain. Quinten Frye of Salt Kitchen & Tasting Bar on Oahu will be the guest chef. Frye won the 2012 Hawaii Rising Star Sustainability Chef award by pushing for sustainability through supporting a network of Oahu farmers, using whole-animal butchery and making dishes that focus on line-caught fish and local octopus. You can learn more about Grow Culture in this week’s issue of MidWeek Kauai.
Look for additional Mother’s Day menus on Tasting Kauai’s Facebook page. I will be posting menus from Roy’s, Ilima Terrace, Poipu Bay Golf Course, RumFire, Nanea, Makana Terrace and more. The May 8 issue of MidWeek Kauai will feature 10 fun and delicious things to eat on Mother’s Day.
Friday, May 17

Oahu resident Tara McKellar samples three preparations of taro. Daniel Lane photo

A Taste of Old Kauai

Waipa, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., $155
Tasting Kauai’s north shore tour is part agritourism and part ecotourism. We visit Waipa, one of 67 watersheds homesteaded by the first Polynesians, which remains undeveloped. This one-of-a-kind experience was designed by Tasting Kauai and the Waipa Foundation especially for those who wish to learn about traditional agriculture systems, endangered wildlife, and enjoy real Hawaiian food saturated in Kauai’s rugged beauty.
Tucked in a valley and surrounded by towering mountain ranges, our guests learn about Hawaii’s culture and food. Waipa is nestled in the Hanalei Valley which is an is a Wildlife Refuge and endangered birds flourish here. We explore a vast loi (taro garden) fed by auwai, or irrigation system, that supplies water from mountain streams.
At the “Poi Garage” we learn about Hawaii’s staff of life: taro, or kalo as it’s called here, and guests sample cooked taro corms, poi and kulolo, a traditional dessert made with coconut.
We tour the farm and learn how Waipa teaches kids about the circle of life through farm animals and gardens. Continuing through the property, we’ll learn the difference between native, canoe and introduced plants, while we walk to the Halulu Fishpond.

Guests learn the difference between native, canoe and introduced and plants at the Halulu Fishpond. Daniel Lane photo

Papaya’s Natural Food’s and Cafe 15th Anniversary Celebration

8 a.m. to 9 .p.m., free

• 15-percent off items store wide
• Free samples
• Free Tastings from local vendors such as Uncle Mikey’s Dried Fruit, Kauai Living Goodies, Kauai Kombucha, Lotus fudge, Da Cha Teas and Rick’s Hawaiian Gold Mustard
• Free Music by Madison and Paradise Found 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“We would like to thank the community for their continued support in making Papaya’s what it is today!” says event coordinator Chelsea. For more information, call 808-823-0190
Sunday, May 19

Lisa Fuller and Sun. Daniel Lane photo

One Song Farm: The Garden As Teacher Workshop

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.,$36 per person, cash only please
Lisa and Sun will share their 30 years combined knowledge and experience in organic, bio-intensive gardening to the people of Kauai. Come prepared to be in the sun bring a water bottle, big hat, sunscreen and snacks. For experienced and novice gardeners. Topics include:

• Soil testing and planting bed preparation
• Weed management
• The benefits of insects
• Creating quality compost
• Maintaining your garden from seed to table
• Plant variety selection

Contact Lisa and Sun at 808-635-3020, for directions and registration.
ONGOING:
May 23-26

12th Annual Kauai Polynesian Festival

Vidinha Stadium
All Kauai residents and visitors are welcome to attend the Kauai Polynesian Festival. The event kicks off with “A Polynesian Evening of Stars”, a Polynesian cultural protocol ceremony with Hawaiian and contemporary entertainment.
The weekend festival May 24-26 features Tahitian, Maori, Samoan and Hawaiian entertainment, Polynesian arts and crafts, solo and group dance competitions, food booths, workshops, and much more.
On May 23, there will be a fashion show and a newly added event, “U TINK U GET TALENT” a contest for youth and adult singers, dancers and musicians.
For more information, visit the Kauai Polynesian Festival website.

Sunshine Farmers Market in Kapaa. Daniel Lane photo

Farmers Market Class

Wednesdays, 3 to 4 p.m., $30
Learn how to select perfect produce, when it’s in season and how to cook with it during Tasting Kauai’s new one-hour farmers market classes. Marta Lane, Kauai based food and farm writer, teaches residents and visitors how to negotiate market pitfalls.
“One day I was at the farmers market and I saw friends who were visiting from Colorado,” says Tasting Kauai founder Marta Lane. “As we hugged and said hello, I saw a table full of near-rotten mangos. It was still snowing in Denver and my friends were excited about the big, beautiful tomatoes they just bought. Their faces fell when I told them they were not grown on Kauai. I felt bad for them, and was inspired to offer this class.”
Farmers markets are an affordable way to immerse yourself in local culture and the best place to buy produce that’s so fresh, it was harvested that morning. But buying at the farmers market doesn’t always insure that it was grown on Kauai.
It happens all over the world. In Hawaii, customers want mangos year-round. In Colorado, they want tomatoes in May. To make that sale, vendors buy imported mangoes or tomatoes and sell them as their own. Customers unfamiliar with the seasons can insure their dollars are spent on local products by learning how to identify locally grown produce.
There’s a whole world of delicious produce that many residents never try. Let’s face it, some of it looks like it came from another planet. Once unfamiliar produce is demystified and cooking tips are shared, it may become a regular at dinner table.
Many factors can make exotic produce expensive and the last thing you want to do is buy a pineapple that isn’t at peak perfection. This class will also teach you how to tell when produce is ripe as well as how to store it for best results.
Learn what to look for, the right questions to ask and how to prepare exotic ingredients. You’ll never get taken advantage of and you have a table full of delicious, local produce.
For reservations, call 808-635-0257.