KAPA‘A — A Kaua‘i nonprofit is encouraging residents to prepare locally-sourced meals throughout next week during its second annual Ai Pono Challenge.
The Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA) says the initiative supports area farmers by underscoring the variety of foodstuffs found on Kaua‘i, from local flowers and honey to invasive prawns.
“It’s just really part of the bigger solution of creating the committed market to buy local food,” HAPA community organizer Fern Holland said. “I think a lot of people just don’t know what’s available.”
To facilitate the discovery of Kaua‘i foodstuffs, Ai Pono participants are encouraged to fill a “scavenger hunt” card by the end of the seven-day challenge which starts on Sunday, Sept. 12. Boxes to check off include shopping at a farmer’s market; cooking with self-harvested ingredients; preparing a dish using ‘ulu; and others.
Holland says buying local contributes to “big picture goals” like fighting climate change, in addition to putting money back into the community.
“People here (are) using green, regenerative agriculture systems and techniques that actually capture carbon,” she explained. “Instead of the opposite … the importation and support of industrialized, large-scale agriculture, which has really been identified as one of the key driving factors of climate change.”
Registration for the free Ai Pono Challenge continues through Saturday, Sept. 11, at www.hapahi.org/ai-pono-challenge.
Partners include island businesses and organizations offering everything from locally-sourced ingredients and fresh produce to prepared meals. Among them are Aloha Aina Poi Company in Waimea, for kalo products; Uncle Mikey’s Dried Fruit in Kapa‘a, for gourmet dried fruit; and Rainbow Road in Kilauea, for plant-based ice cream. A full partner list is available for download on the HAPA website.
“We hope to grow it year by year and just highlight our many partners and the people that do provide incredible quality, great local, harvested, farmed, raised, hunted, all of those things,” Holland said. “So just bringing those producers and farmers to light … and naturally, we’re trying to support those local businesses and helping strengthen the local economy.”
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Scott Yunker, general assignement reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or syunker@thegardenisland.com.
