Na Hoku open vote for fans’ favorite
Public voting is underway to determine the winner of the 2014 Na Hoku Hanohano Award for favorite entertainer of the year. It is the only Na Hoku category where the winner is determined by public vote.
The finalists are Ikaika Blackburn, Robert Cazimero, The Green, Kupaoa, Hulu Lindsey, Chino Montero, Sean Na’auao, Kuana Torres Kahele, Waipuna and Mark Yamanaka.
Fans can cast their vote at www.hara-vote.com. Only one vote per email address and IP address is allowed. The deadline for voting is midnight May 14.
Events will promote farms, sustainability
Farming and sustainability will be spotlighted at the Community Seed & Plant Exchange Farm Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at two locations on Oahu.
Permablitz Hawai’i and the Cubanakoa Foundation are organizing the festival on International Permaculture Day. The free events will be held at Kualoa Ranch’s Hale Moli’i Fish Pond in Windward Oahu and at Kahumana Organic Farm in Waianae.
Festivities include live music, food vendors and workshops on topics ranging from preserving and pickling food to propagation and seed bombs. Sponsors include Whole Foods Market, Kualoa Ranch and Kahumana. Attendees are encouraged to bring plants, starters and seeds for exchange.
More information is at www.permablitzhawaii.com and www.permacultureday.org.
Waikiki Aquarium seeks volunteers
The Waikiki Aquarium is looking for volunteers with an interest in Hawaii marine life and conservation who like to interact with others.
Free training begins Tuesday, with sessions held 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays through May 22. The course covers interpretation and hospitality skills, and information on exhibit operations and marine sciences. Interpreters work one two-hour shift per week for a minimum of six months.
Trainees must attend all eight sessions before they are accepted into the program. Saturday is the deadline to register.
Call 440-9020 or email volunteer@waikikiaquarium.org for more information or to reserve space in a class.
MORSELS
22 James Beard winners to attend food festival
Some 80 chefs, including 22 James Beard Award winners, will present their cuisine using local products at the Fourth Annual Hawai’i Food & Wine Festival, Aug. 29 to Sept. 7.
Among the luminaries confirmed are Mourad Lahlou of Aziza, Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys), Art Smith (Table fifty-two), Tom Douglas (Tom Douglas Restaurants), Jason Fox (Commonwealth) and Naomi Pomeroy (Beast Restaurant).
The six-day festival offering seven signature events begins on the Big Island, continues on Maui then moves to Oahu.
Over three years, the festival has raised more than $700,000 for culinary education and agricultural programs.
Tickets are on sale at hawaii foodandwinefestival.com.
Annual dinner gala benefits LCC students
The annual Leeward Culinary Arts Gala, L’ulu, which pairs local chefs with local farmers, ranchers and aquaculturists, returns May 10 to Leeward Community College’s The Pearl fine-dining restaurant.
From 6 to 9 p.m., diners can indulge in dishes from 13 chefs such as Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi, Troy Terorotua (REAL a gastropub), Ronnie Nasuti (Tiki’s Grill & Bar), Hideaki "Santa" Miyoshi (Tokkuri Tei), Mark Noguchi (Pili Hawai’i), Jon Matsubara (Japengo), Ian Riseley and LCC students (The Pearl), and Rodney Uyehara (HSAR Bistro).
L’ulu funds scholarships and other educational opportunities for the college’s culinary students.
Tickets are $100 through Friday and $125 thereafter. Call Fabi Castellano at 455-0300 or email fabiola@hawaii.edu.
Celebrate iconic Spam at Waikiki street fest
It’s Spam Jam time again.
The Waikiki street festival returns Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. along Kalakaua Avenue to celebrate the iconic luncheon meat with various food booths featuring Spam.
Those staying in Waikiki for the weekend can participate in an Outrigger and Ohana Hotels special that includes a free upgrade, based on availability, with the donation of a Spam product, which will be given to the Hawaii Foodbank. Call 800-688-7444.
