Inaugural awards will laud food manufacturers

The Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association will present its first-ever Taste Awards in June.

The awards, co-sponsored by the state Department of Agriculture, will honor outstanding companies, individuals and products within the food manufacturing industry.

Awards will be presented in nine categories, in which the following finalists have been nominated:

Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award: Diamond Bakery, FCH Enterprises (Zippy’s, Napoleon’s Bakery, etc.), Hawaiian Host, KTA Superstores’ Derek Kurisu and Menehune Mac’s Neal Arakaki

Innovate Hawaii Manufacturer of the Year (more than 100 employees): Hawaiian Sun Products and So Ono Food Products

Innovate Hawaii Manufacturer of the Year (fewer than 100 employees): Aloha Tofu, Big Island Bees, Hamakua Macadamia Nut Co., Hawaii Candy Co. and Mulvadi Corp.

Startup Manufacturer of the Year: Chic Naturals, Fresh Catch/FC Sauces and Ono Giant Shrimp Co.

Product of the Year: Big Island Abalone, Chic Naturals, Hawaii Kai Corp. (sea salts), Maui’s Winery and Soul de Cuba

Advocate of the Year: Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Innovate Hawaii/HTDC (Wayne Inouye), Maui Gold Pineapple Co. and Nina Tanabe

Supplier of the Year: Dana Labels, Inovi Technologies, Pacific Rim Packaging, Rengo Packaging and the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources

Community Service Award: Aloha Shoyu, Glow Hawaii Inc., Hawai’i Gas, Pacific Gateway Center and Roselani Ice Cream

Innovative Marketing Award: Central Pacific Bank, For J’s Hawaii, Hawaiian Chip Co. and KTA Superstores

The awards presentation gala will be June 14 at the Pomaikai Ballrooms at Dole Cannery and will include a "Battle of the Chefs" competition and a formal dinner reception.

"We’re very excited to launch the Taste Awards," Byron Goo, HFMA board president, said in a statement.

"It’s long overdue for our industry to recognize the best of the best. There’s a lot of hard work and so many wonderful stories to tell about the local companies that produce the great food products found throughout Hawaii’s homes, stores and restaurants."