Jea Laganina, a supervisor at Kaua‘i Bakery in Kukui Grove Center, just happened to be working on inserting cream into a batch of malasadas Sunday.
“These will be gone today,” Laganina said. “But we have more scheduled for Malasada Tuesday. One of the bakers is staying back to fry malasadas so we should have plenty.”
Laganina said Kaua‘i Bakery is holding special hours Tuesday, starting at 6 p.m. and, hopefully, until 6 p.m.
“Or until we run out,” the supervisor laughed. “There are people who already have orders placed for Tuesday. The rest of the people will have to come in and get whatever is available.”
Malasada Tuesday is based on Shrove Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday, falling on the day before Ash Wednesday and referring to the practice of the final night of eating rich, fatty foods and desserts before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season. Tuesday is also when Mardi Gras is celebrated.
It was made popular in Hawai‘i during the plantation days by Leonard’s Bakery on O‘ahu.
“Malasada Tuesday is the perfect day to indulge in a box of hot, sugary goodness without feeling guilty,” states the Leonard’s website.
Traditionally, there are certain schools like Damien High School which gets the forces out to capitalize on Malasada Tuesday as a fundraising effort through the sales of the morsels considered a Portuguese confection.
Malasada Tuesday dates back to the 19th century, when Portuguese, mostly from Madeira and the Azores, were brought to Hawai‘i to work on the plantations, bringing their Catholic traditions along with them.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
