Kauai
Ripe noni is soft and translucent. Daniel Lane photo
Noni fruit is a medicinal food that Polynesians have been using for centuries. In fact, it was so highly prized by the original settlers about 2,000 years ago, they brought it with them when they homesteaded in Hawaii. Noni is one of 24 plants brought to the islands, and these plants are known as canoe crops. Continue Reading →
A bride and groom during sunset at The Beach House. Photo courtesy of The Beach House.
NEWS:
The former Big Save in Lihue is being converted into a food hub which will include retail space, a commercial kitchen and a meat processing facility. The county developed a plan that will use up to 9,000 square feet. The meat-processing plant will not slaughter animals, but will receive quartered carcasses from Kauai ranchers for further processing. The food hub will also sell local produce as well as Kauai Grown and Kauai Made products. This is not only great news for shoppers, but Kauai’s food growers and makers. The facility will be a one stop location to buy fresh produce and meat. I hope they offer eggs as well! Right now, the multi-use concept is in its infancy stage, but I’ll share the news as it becomes available. Continue Reading →
Image courtesy of Malama Kauai.
The national FoodCorps is recruiting service members throughout Hawaii who are passionate about healthy food, farms, and kids to help connect our keiki (children) to real food and help them grow up healthy.
FoodCorps, a national organization addressing childhood obesity and food insecurity in underserved communities, operates in 12 states, and this year will be adding Hawaii, California, and New Jersey. FoodCorps has selected The Kohala Center as its host site in Hawaii. FoodCorps is accepting applications for its third class of service members, and is seeking to hire ten service members in Hawaii.
Colleen Carroll, Director of the Kauai School Garden Network says, “Here on the island of Kauai we are privileged to host two of the ten Food Corps service members. This is a unique opportunity for selected service members to receive training and experience on the leading edge of School Gardens and Farm to School Programs in Hawaii. Service members will work to increase the availability of healthy local food at our schools; teaching in and expanding the outdoor school gardens at the selected school sites; and working with the community to integrate local skills and knowledge and awareness of the school’s healthy food and garden activities.” Continue Reading →
Monkeypod Jam is made in Mauviel’s classic hand-hammered copper pots. Daniel Lane photo
NEWS:
We’ve been fans of Monkeypod Jam since June 2011, when we did an article about them for Midweek Kauai. It seems we’re not alone. In the March/April edition of Hawaii Magazine, a Reader’s Choice issue celebrating Hawaii’s Best of the Best, Monkeypod Jam is listed as having an obvious flair for sublime creativity. We couldn’t agree more!
On Oct. 26, we reported that Scotty’s had been sold and today, we are sad to report it’s closed. Though Scotty’s Beachside BBQ is no longer serving up daily feasts at his beautiful restaurant, Scotty is still cooking amazing BBQ under Scotty’s BBQ & Catering Co. Scotty’s BBQ Catering specializes in wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, and birthday and anniversary parties. Scotty’s Catering features plated or buffet style dinners with an affordable menu plus some “local style” favorites. All while you and your party gaze upon the vast blue Pacific Ocean from every table in the house! Scotty’s Catering offers breakfast, lunch or dinner options. Continue Reading →
Raine Servantes looks after tomatoes in the greenhouse at Wilcox Elementary School in Lihue. Daniel Lane photo
NEWS:
A 2012 study conducted by the Hawaii Farm to School and School Garden Hui found that there are 168 school gardens across the state with 21,577 participating students, 830 teachers, 1,500 volunteers, on 30 acres of land! Fourteen schools on Kauai participated. That’s great news because this past week, I’ve been checking out the Hawaii DOE cafeteria food photos Facebook page, and the food our kids are being served I wouldn’t give to my dogs!
Hawaii school garden students grew and harvested healthy snacks; created farmers markets; integrated science; math; social studies; literature and arts; and learned social skills and teamwork. Research indicates that children who participate in school gardens and farm to school programs develop healthier lifestyles and life-long eating habits, improve academic performance, provide real-life learning about sustainability and ecoliteracy while creating stronger community connections.
I don’t think we need studies to prove this. I think we all know that gardening is excellent exercise for body, mind and spirit and good, wholesome foods come from it. Our school gardens need support. If you’d like to help, or want more
information, visit the Kokua Foundation Hawaii website.
March 15 is the final day to sign up for the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program for the School Year 2013-2014, so tell your principals about it. All schools received an email a few weeks ago from the DOE Office of Child Nutrition and they have the application, but they have not had filled it out and sent it in. Continue Reading →
