NEWS:

Honua Lani Gardens

RumFire Mango Mojito and the Bom. Daniel Lane photos

“I have a garden cart in front of my permaculture estate at 6200 Helena Lane, Kapaa, in Kapahai,” says Jai Roberts. “We sell bananas, green beans, greens of all sorts, turmeric and avocados. Everything is grown using organic practices with aged compost. I am passionate about growing food and sharing it with my community.”

Jai created Honua Lani Gardens as a model of sustainable tropical living. The property is on five-acres of botanical grounds with ponds, tropical flowers, sustainable vegetable gardens and a fruit tree orchard. Five bungalows offer a Mini-Resort experience that includes a spa featuring Lomi-Lomi massage, and a Finish style sauna for cleansing Hawaiian salt scrubs. For more information visit the Honua Lani Gardens website, or Facebook page. “I am co creator of the Kauai Sustainability forums, and we have a page for that on Facebook. 

Koloa Community Market

The name of the Koloa Sunshine Market changed to Koloa Community Market and is held on Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m. Located in Old Koloa Town at the Historic Courtyard behind Crazy Shirts.

Vendors include Green MaxPro herbal sanitizer; LaLa Nani, a line of skin creams, conditioners, sunscreen, and a burn lotion—that’s endorsed by our local American Cancer Society for radiation burns; Auntie Gwen’s Mochi Snack; Hula Baby Biscotti; Nana’s Bananas; Uncle Mikey’s Dried Fruit; Island Soap and Candles; and Sefo—a sixteenth generation Tongan carver of traditional Polynesian tikis using koa and monkeypod wood. Space is currently available for farmers, vendors, artisans. Contact Pattie at 808-639-3982, or 808-742-8377.

Coconut Cup

Coconut Cup has loads of fresh lilikoi shave ice right now. Their shave ice is always made with 100 percent fruit juice.

Kalapaki Joe’s

Nilo Badua of Kalapaki Joe’s. Daniel Lane photo

On August 18th, Mai Tai enthusiasts head to the Royal Kona Resort for the 4th Annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival. Bartenders from around the world battle for the title of World’s Best Mai Tai and the $10,000 cash prize.

Nilo Badua of Kalapaki Joe’s will be the only representative from Kauai in this world-class event. Badua, born and raised in the Philippines moved to Kauai in 1988 and has worked in several food and beverage establishments before landing the role of mixologist for Kalapaki Joe’s. He loves being creative by utilizing island grown fruits and essences to make each specialty drink unique. His passion is complimenting amazing cuisine with just the right flavors in his exclusive concoctions.

Good luck Nilo!

Cakes by Kristin

Cakes by Kristin is celebrating their one year anniversary this month. “Thank you all for your support and continued business,” says co owner Aaron Leikam. “May the next year bring many more ‘Sophisticatedly Yummy’ treats.

Uncle Mikey’s Dried Fruit

Mike Stewart with daughter Stephanie. Daniel Lane photo

“Good stuff happening!” Says Uncle Mikey’s Dried Fruit owner Mike Stewart. “Vosges Haut Chcocolat, out of Chicago, after 6 months of product testing has gone into production of the Wild Ophelia Bar. It has peanut butter, chocolate and our dried bananas. They will distributing it nationally, even here in Hawaii! Awesome!

“Food Pantry Co. has picked up Uncle Mikey’s, that’s all the Whaler’s General Stores throughout the state. We are also up to 13 countries including Czechoslovakia!

“It’s shaping up to be a decent mango season cuz ‘It takes two to mango‘  and ‘I never met a mango I didn’t like!’ Starfruit coming soon.

“I will be on the KKCR ‘Back to the Garden’ show, Wednesday, August 8 at 12 p.m. with host Kamran. Call 808-826-7774 with questions!”

EVENTS:

Saturday, August 4

Kapaa Art Walk

Late last night, we unwrapped 14 images. It was like Christmas! Marta Lane photo

Java Kai will be showcasing images from Pono Photo throughout August. The exhibit will debut during the Kapaa Art Walk. If you don’t know, Pono Photo is my husband Daniel Lane. He is the exclusive photographer for Tasting Kauai, and MidWeek Kauai’s “Eye on Kauai”, “Tastes of Kauai” and “Farmers Markets” columns. Stop by tomorrow night and say aloha!

Friday, August 10

Sustainability Workshop for Hawaii’s Business Leaders

Green building, renewable energy, organic food, and ecotourism are all the fastest growing segments of their industries, reflecting broader economic trends. There are risks—and great opportunities—for your company as Hawaii’s economy, and the broader global economy move into an era of dwindling resources and growing consumer awareness of health and sustainability.

This one-day workshop is sponsored by the Workforce Development Council and the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, on opportunities in sustainability. The workshop will be taught by Scott Cooney, Principal of the GBO Group and adjunct Professor of Sustainability in the MBA program at UH Manoa’s Shidler College of Business, and Laura Lesar, accredited sustainable tourism consultant and auditor, and specializes in global sustainable tourism certification.

The workshop will cover how sustainability fits in Hawaii business, including opportunities for growth, strategies for resource efficiencies, employee engagement and marketing communications.

Registration includes all workshop materials, as well as local and sustainable coffee/tea, lunch, and refreshments offered by PurEssence Foods. Register at Sustainability Workshop for Hawaii’s Business Leaders.

For more information, contact Scott Cooney at 808-312-0850

Monday, August 13

Grown

Monday Night Dinner, $50 plus tax and gratuity with no fee BYOB

Collin Darrell at his inaugural event at One Song Farm. Daniel Lane photo.

Collin Darrell’s pop-up restaurant Grown is continuing with their Monday night events at Caffé Coco. On August 13, Doug Kocol from Salt and Sweetbreads on Oahu will be creating a menu showcasing Kauai grown ingredients. He is a specialist in aging and curing meats, especially pork. Collin is giving he the freedom to show his versatility by offering five courses of pig. Awesome! Tasting Kauai loves pig. And of course it’ll be from Kaneshiro Farms.

Collin has access to one of the few fig trees on Kauai, and he says it seems to be cooperating by fruiting just in time for this event. The rest will of the menu will be sourced from the markets, just a day or two before, and transformed into the tasting menu.

We like Collin’s style. It forces us to get comfortable with the unknown, and release expectations brought on by knowing what’s for dinner. It’s an adventure when we relax, and have faith in Collin and him team, knowing that what ever we eat will be super fresh, seasonal and delicious!

Sunday, August 19

Waipa Mango Festival

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Love is like a mango. Daniel Lane photo

The Waipa Foundation is hosting a community festival celebrating the summer mango harvest. Eat the most ono mango inspired grinds, and enter the Recipe Contest for Best Dessert and Best Pickled Mango. Call 808-631-4112 for contest rules and an entry form.

There will also be a Biggest Mango Contest, and Grower Workshops in Tree Management, Pruning & Feeding. Workshop space is limited, call 808-631-4112 for more info. Adult admission $1, Keiki free.

Friday, August 24

Tasting Kauai Culinary Tour

Tasting Kauai’s last culinary tour was so much fun, we decided to do another. We will feature the same line up: Ein Rogel Farm, four-course lunch and cooking demonstration at the Kauai Marriott Resort, Koloa Rum Co. demonstration and cocktails at The Feral Pig.

Chef Guy Higa at the cooking demonstration for a Tasting Kauai tour. Daniel Lane photo

Chef Guy Higa donates all proceeds from this tour to the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen in Kauai. He has created a new menu for our next tour.

• First Course: 
Kauai Fresh Farms Lettuce and Aquaponic Greens Salad, Chef’s Garden Herb Dressing, and Quinoa Chickpea Croutons
• Second Course
: Grilled Eggplant, Lebanese Yogurt Cheese, and Marinated Kauai Tomatoes
• Third Course: 
Kaneshiro Farm Roast Pork with Chinatown Cake Noodles
• Fourth Course:
 Chef’s Garden Lilikoi Panna Cotta with Kula Strawberry Compote

Lynn Kenton from Ventura, CA, gave us our first review on Yelp. She says in an email, “Really enjoyed the day!!! Got to learn about some of the local crops, products, etc. and enjoy the fruits of their labors as well. I thought my husband would balk at the price but he said it was worth every dollar and would do it again on our next visit.”

Call 808-635-0257 to make a reservation.

A Midsummer Night’s Dreamscape

6 to 2 a.m., Na Aina Kai, $100

Enjoy an evening of magic, theater and food outside, on the botanical grounds of Na Aina Kai. A four-course meal will be presented by Sushi Bushido, and delight in theatrical acts between courses. At 10 p.m. head over to the Lighthouse Bistro in Kilauea, for a private after-hours party.

Nana Moon Mead will be featured in the cocktails. The Sunset Dream is made with house-infused vanilla vodka, coconut rum, Winter Sun Mead, and lilikoi juice and is topped with a hibiscus-lime orange liquor float. Yum! For more information, check out A Midsummer Night’s Dreamscape on Facebook.

ONGOING:

Thursday, August 23 through Sunday, August 26

Kauai County Farm Bureau Fair

Vidinha Stadium, Lihue

“Aloha! In all my years of living on the Garden Isle, I have not missed any of the annual Kauai County Farm Bureau Fairs!” says Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. “Four days filled with fun and excitement! This year’s theme, “We Are Family” highlights our connectedness, and when we honor and respect our friends in the agricultural sector, we become stronger and healthier as a community. I encourage everyone to come and enjoy this year’s fair, where there truly is something for the young and not so young!”

This year’s events include a Kauai Grown Honey Tasting, Kauai Coffee Celebrity Chef Cook-off for Charity, Petting Zoo, Maltese Family Circus, Fair Rides, Watermelon Eating Contest, Live Music, and much, much more. Visit the Kauai Farm Fair website for more information.