Kalani announces The Puna Culinary Festival , September 21-28, 2014, an invitation to experience the abundant harvest of Hawai‘i Island and interact directly with the region’s growers, farmer’s market purveyors, and food enthusiasts. Throughout the eight-day festival, attendees will enjoy meals prepared by top chefs, cooking classes, sustainable farm tours, market visits, thought-provoking workshops and other special events.
This not-for-profit festival is helping to revitalize Puna by sharing
sustainablility and permaculture practices championed by its innovative residents. Eric Ellenwood, steward of the modern ahupua‘a permaculture series in Puna says, “The Puna Culinary Festival shines a light on sustainability, farm-to-fork methods, and cutting-edge permaculture practices here. I am grateful for opportunity to witness the celebration and sharing of the abundant ‘āina here.”
Celebrity guests The Green Divas, Megan McWilliams and Lynn Hasselberger, will join the festival this year, offering up their trademark tips to ‘low- stress ways to live a deeper shade of green.’ They will talk-story on the evening of Thursday, September 25, and will lead a demonstration class on healthy and delicious juicing and smoothie techniques on Friday, September 26. “The Puna Culinary Festival stands out amongst food festivals nationwide because of its focus on green and healthy living,” said Megan McWilliams, founder of the Green Divas. “The festival is a fabulous way to learn about permaculture, taste local food, and celebrate nature.”
Sponsored by Suisan and stewarded by Kalani, where most festival activities will take place, the festival embodies the collective mission to share nature, culture, and wellness. Many
festival events will raise funds for Hawai‘i Island Food Bank, an island-wide, supplemental food network that collects and distributes nutritious, high-quality food to our island’s most vulnerable populations.
The festival opens with a Hawaiian Style kālua pork dinner at Kalani on Sunday, September 21, followed by DELICIOUS, a whimsical food themed art show. DELICIOUS: A Feast for the Senses encourages artists to play with food itself to create art in novel ways. The festival culminates with PupuPalooza, a judged
appetizer competition and public tasting on Saturday, September 27. For the full listing of events and farm tours, please visit PunaCulinaryFestival.com.
To participate in PupuPalooza or as an artist in DELICIOUS: A Feast for the Senses, please email Tina at events@kalani.com.
For more info
rmation, to reserve tickets, lend support to programs, or to request an auxiliary aid or modification, please call (808) 965-7828 x118 or email communications@Kalani.com.
Photos with credits and captions available upon request.
ABOUT KALANI: Kalani has been a soulful place of refuge and renewal for kama`āina and international guests for nearly forty years. A 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization, Kalani presents nature, culture and wellness in sustainable, educational programs that honor Hawaii’s native and diverse heritage. Kalani provides classes and workshops, healthy cuisine, comfortable accommodations for every budget, rejuvenating bodywork treatments, recreational facilities, and educational adventures. Visit kalani.com to discover all that Kalani has to offer.
Kalani educational programs and facilities are supported by member donations, volunteer staff, plus contributions from local residents, student participants and organizations including the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
