Author discusses ‘food democracy’

Food activist Frances Moore Lappe, author of "Diet for a Small Planet," will headline "Visioning Food Democracy in Hawaii," a free lecture and panel discussion Friday and Saturday at Church of the Crossroads.

Lappe’s theory on global food security is built on the platform that we produce enough food to keep the world’s population well fed. The problem of hunger, she writes in the article "Living Democracy, Feeding Hope," is directly tied to concentration of wealth and power. To rectify the situation, she suggests dispersion of power via such entities as cooperatives and partnerships between citizens and local governments.

» "Food Democracy: Ideas and Stories to Liberate Our Food Systems" 7 p.m. Friday.
» "Diet for a Small Island: Visioning Food Democracy in Hawaii" 9 a.m. Saturday. Four panelists will join the discussion: state Sen. Carol Fukunaga, Eric Enos of Ka’ala Farms, Ted Radovich of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, and Hi’ilei Kawelo of Paepae o He’eia. Lappe will also be featured at the UH Distinguished Lecture Series tomorrow and Friday:
» "Facts and Myths of World Hunger: The Politics of Scarcity": 7 p.m. tomorrow, architecture auditorium
» "Challenging Cheap Food/Big Food": 12:00 p.m. Friday, Kuykendall 101

Waimalu event benefits autism

Retailers at Waimalu Plaza will team up for "Party at the Plaza," an autism fundraiser from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The day’s highlight will be an amateur country stew cook-off, moderated by ukulele teacher Roy Sakuma and judged by Off the Wall chef Kyle Matsumoto, Aiea Bowl owner/chef Glenn Uyeda and food bloggers Melissa Chang and Ed Morita.

The benefit will also feature a country store, wine tasting and other festivities. Admission is free. Call 735-7771 or visit www.tacanow.com.

Class focuses on wok cooking

Learn to cook "Fast & Hot, Straight from the Wok!"

Ryan Murakami, owner of Conscious-nest Catering, will lead a Nov. 13 cooking class showcasing the many possibilities using the ubiquitous Asian pan. Cost is $20. The class will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Lyon Arboretum, 3860 Manoa Road. Call 988-0461.

Kailua High offers imu space

The Kailua High School athletic program will tend to a Thanksgiving imu and is offering space inside for trays of food.

Food goes into the underground oven on Nov. 24, emerging the next morning steamed full of luau flavor.

Cost is $15 per large foil tray. Food — such as whole turkeys, roasts or pork butt (meat chunks should have three deep cuts in them), sweet potatoes, taro or luau leaves — must be thawed, seasoned and well wrapped in foil. Drop in pan and wrap again in foil. Weight limit per tray is 25 pounds.

Reservations due by Nov. 17. Make checks payable to Kailua High School and send to the school, 451 Ulumanu Drive, Kailua 96734. Write "Attention IMU" in lower left corner of the envelope. Include your name, telephone number and a self-addressed, stamped envelope so a confirmation ticket can be sent to you. To be included in an e-mail list for future imu, provide e-mail address as well.

Call 266-7910 or 728-7389.

 CORRECTION: The schedule for lectures by food activist Frances Moore Lappe at Church of the Crossroads is: "Food Democracy: Ideas and Stories to Liberate Our Food Systems" at 7 p.m. tomorrow; and "Diet for a Small Island" at 9 a.m. Saturday. Incorrect times were listed in a brief in a previous version.