PO‘IPU — There are still tickets available for the Po‘ipu Food and Wine Festival Pa‘ina on Saturday, said Jody Kono Kjeldsen of the Po‘ipu Beach Foundation on Wednesday while watching Executive Chef Eric Oto of G.Lion Hawai‘i prepare his sample model vegan salad at the pop-up farmers’ market at The Shops at Kukui‘ula.
The Pa‘ina taking place at Ka Hale Imu a Kikuchi, or the big imu, at the Kaua‘i Community College near the tennis courts, is described as “an exquisite epicurean experience and benefit for the Kaua‘i Community College Culinary Arts Program” that takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
“It’s kind of like the Culinary Institute of the Pacific Spring Gala that used to be held before the COVID shutdown,” said Veronica Lovesy, the president of the Po‘ipu Beach Foundation, who flew in from Lana‘i to attend.
The Pa‘ina will feature some of Hawai‘i’s finest chefs from Kaua‘i, and some from off-island, Lovesy said — and paired wine, live music and a silent auction.
A portion of the funds raised at the Pa‘ina help with the continued development of the KCC culinary-arts program by providing scholarships for students in need. The program trains about 50 students a year, many of whom continue to find jobs in the local culinary industry.
The KCC culinary-arts students, both the first-year and second-year classes, were on hand Wednesday for the chef’s demonstration at the pop-up farmers’ market to learn from visiting Oto and preview some of the menu for the Pa‘ina that included Kaua‘i Grown ingredients offered to the Kukui‘ula crowd, many of whom purchased tickets for the Saturday event, as samples. Savory plates were also available for purchase, with the proceeds benefiting the KCC culinary-arts program.
“I never knew you could eat the tops of the beet,” said Marina Pascua, who lives near Koloa School. “And, I’m eating flowers.”
Her daughter, Lani Pascua-Kaui of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, separated the beet greens from the rest of the Mountain View beet and avocado salad with macadamia nut, local citrus and balsamic reduction for sampling of the greens by itself.
“It kind of tastes like spinach,” she said.
Oto will be joined by Chef Brian Hirata of Na‘au Hilo and Chef Mark Noguchi of Pili Group, O‘ahu, at the Pa‘ina. The trio of visiting chefs will be joined by Kaua‘i chefs Ikaika Manaku and Alan Duldulao of The Club at Kukui‘ula, Mark Arriola of the Living Foods Market, Megan Chalmers of Merriman’s Fish House, Alex Amorin of Hokuala, Ron Miller of the Hukilau Lanai, Taylor Sakimae of the Kaua‘i Poke Co. at Po‘ipu Bay, and Chef Wayne of Keoki’s Paradise.
Tickets are available at www.poipufoodandwinefestival.com.
The Pa‘ina is hosted by the Po‘ipu Beach Foundation and Southwest Airlines in partnership with the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and KCC.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
