PUHI– Team Hawaii is back from the 48th International Snow Sculpture Contest held early in February at the 72nd Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan.
Team Hawaii consists of three men: Captain Dale Radomski, Charles Matsuda, and Norimitsu Wada-Goode. They didn’t place in the contest, missing ranking by just one point, but did bring home a medal in the abstract category.
“They tell us we missed it by one point, losing to Macau a rough one to swallow. But we thank all the support from Hawaiian Airlines to Kyoya Hotels to Kauai ACF and Chef Steve Nagata, Chef Martina at KCC, Kauai Coffee, Kauai Kookie, and many others that were behind us,” captain Radomski.
The Snow Festival was eight hours away from being canceled when the team arrived for the 2020 competition, it was too warm and not enough snow.
“But three days later the most snow fell in 52 years with the temperatures around three to eight degrees,” Radomski said.
Radomski said they got invited back and hopes to get support from the state visitors office as well as anyone that wants to support them for next year. In addition to thinking of what sculpture to create for next year, his team has already been busy giving back to their community.
The first thing on their agenda was to give back to Kauai Community College (KCC ) chef/students last Thursday, while their culinary teacher Chef Martina Hilldorfer watches over them.
“Dale agreed to host the carving class. Dale is the master carver, who better to teach the class?” Hilldorfer said.
Radomski mentioned he had a role offer in a movie that could have made him some big money to be featured in on the same day as the carving class but he told them the students came first.
“I couldn’t let the students down, and we are sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines, so I called them back to tell them the students were looking forward to this. It feels good to be here today,” Radomski said.
The 12 students, soon to be chefs all took turns watching, learning and carving a block of ice that weighed 300 lbs. and was 4ft long by 2 ½ feet wide. At one point, the students had to get their own grip on a chain saw and learn about
“It’s always great to come see the kids and see their excitement,” said Team Hawaii member Matsuda.
As the students watched Radomski and his teammate Matsuda, they took notes and were excited to learn more.
“It’s amazing, I was like how does the sandpaper dipped in water smooth out the block of ice? I couldn’t believe the techniques we are learning,” said student chef Dakota Cun-Lara.
Team Hawaii is passing on the legacy to the younger chefs in Hawaii and are gearing up for next year. Radomski said, “If anyone wants to support us, please get in contact with me.”
