Going Green with Andrea Dean

Sometimes my life has a dreamlike quality to it. In the midst of my daily juggling act to keep all of my balls in the air, very often beautiful little miracles appear. I say YES and find myself having a unique experience- surrounded by incredible natural beauty and fantastic people. Yesterday was one of those days. Artist and ecology educator Peter Antrim Kowalke asked me to join him and his Art In Sight Board of Directors aboard a sail on the Maile. The wind was light and we did more motoring than sailing, but the water was this incredible indigo color, we saw lots of whale tail, and the company was great. I always appreciate the shift in mental perspective that I get from seeing the islands from the water. It is like looking at life’s challenges from another angle to gain new perspective. Look from above, look from below, look from the water.

Peter Antrim Kowalke aboard the Maile

Well… if you couldn’t be there (or even if you were) check out the highlights from our local restaurants, markets and night spots!

North Kohala Eat Locally Grown Day was on Sat, Jan 16, 2010. An initiative that came out of the North Kohala Food Forum (www.nkfoodforum.com), restaurant owners Joan Channon (Bamboo), Karen Rosen (Kohala Coffee Mill), Peter Pomeranze (Sushi Rock) and farmer Tom Baldwin (Uluwehi Farms) wanted to feature local, North Kohala grown food in our local restaurants to raise community awareness about our locally grown foods and to create new connections with local farmers. Well- we did it! Hawi and Kapa’au town were abuzz with local foods this past Saturday. The initial idea grew to include other local restaurants and markets- Bamboo, Sushi Rock, Kohala Coffee Mill, Luke’s Place, Kava Kafe, Pico’s, Fig’s Mixed Plate, Snack Shack, Hawi Farmers Market, Takata’s- all who rocked the local food, drinks, and music! North Kohala Eat Locally Grown Day started early at the Kohala Cofee Mill and the Hawi Farmers’ Market and ended late with local kava and local music at the Kava Cafe and Studio 54 at Sushi Rock! We ate, we danced, we raised awareness about local food and farmers!

Karen Rosen, owner of the Kohala Coffee Mill talking up the local specials- local roast beef sandwich, carrot ginger soup, asian wrap, local fruit smoothie and more!

Sushi Rock rolled up sushi rolls with local ingredients. Then they rocked Hawi at night with the Studio 54 dance party.

Visitors from California always eat at Bamboo when they come to the Big Island because they love the local flavors! When people come to Hawaii they want to experience the local flavors! Look out for the next wave- Hawi Regional Cuisine.

Takata's Store expanded the locally grown section and highlighted the local produce with signage.

Kukuipahu Ranch donated local citrus to Takata's Store- proceeds go to the North Kohala Community Learning Center. A great partnership!

Pico's was one of the restaurants who particpated in Eat Locally Grown Day. Taro chips, taro leaf spanikopita, sweet potatoe salad, and more...

Oliver & Tom Baldwin enjoying a locally grown lunch at Pico's. Tom helped coordinate the farmer's/buyer's market where restaurants ordered produce for Eat Locally Grown Day.

Local specials were highlighted at each restaurant.

In case you missed the signs coming into town!

In this podcast I interview Kamu Enos, Education and Resource Specialist at Ma’o Organic Farms. Ma’o Farms is an organic farm that is not just growing food- they are also a social enterprise growing community leaders and entrepreneurs.


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On January 8th local farmers came together with local restaurant owners who wanted to buy produce for North Kohala Eat Locally Grown Day (Sat., Jan 16th). The restaurant owners initiated the Buyer’s Market because they felt that a “face to face” buyer/seller market was important for community building, that meeting in person would help create new relationships with growers, and build upon existing relationships. And it worked! Produce was sold, new relationships were made, plans for the future were discussed!


Come to North Kohala Eat Locally Grown Day on Saturday, January 16th
-Restaurants will create specials using North Kohala produce, fish, and meats, and will incorporate as much North Kohala grown food as possible into their existing menus. Menus and signage will highlight the locals foods and farmers.
-Takata’s (our local food store) will be highlighting the local food they usually carry. In addition, Marc Kinoshita (Kukuipahu Ranch) has arranged for their farm to donate locally grown produce to Takata’s for that day and proceeds from the sales will go to the North Kohala Community Resource Center.
-The Hawi Farmers Market will have a “Made in Kohala” and “Grown in Kohala” tent on that day for local farmers (homesteads and commercial farms) to come and sell. They are also having a kohala grown plant give away.
-Kava Kafe will have a closing party featuring local Kava, local food and local music.
-Sushi Rock is having Studio 54- the after, after party!


Why are we doing this?
-Create more connections between local growers and local buyers, with an eye towards growing our local, sustainable, agricultural economy.
-Raise awareness in North Kohala about eating locally grown foods- the economic, health and community benefits. To ultimately create more local consumer demand for local foods.
-Support local restaurants and markets: Bring people to North Kohala on that day and encourage residents to eat/shop locally on that day.

Restaurant/Market Participants
Bamboo
Sushi Rock
Kohala Coffee Mill
Luke’s Place
Kava Kafe
Pico’s
Fig’s Mixed Plate
Hawi Farmers Market
Takata’s