PUNA 'ULU FESTIVAL

It was rain, rain and rivers of rain in upper Puna but at the Kua O Ka La Charter School 'Ulu Festival, we  enjoyed sunshine with just a little sprinkle of rain now and then, but it was rainin' 'Ulu all day! Joined by over 1,000 folks, I tasted 'Ulu with Wasabe Sauce, Oyster Sauce, and many other dips. At the Cooking Contest Center I tasted some of what was left of the contest entry samples: 'Ulu Lasagne, Chips, 'Ulu Quiche, and more, but somebody got to the Custard, Cookies and Ice Cream before me. Great fun for me though.

Shayna and Asacia

There was great music all day including Bradda Kuz with their new lead guitarist, and an Oh So Sweet duet by Shayna from Hilo H.S. and Asacia of Kua O Ka La. Video links are at the bottom of the page. And for folks that didn't get enough 'Ulu during the festival, I saw many of them leaving with potted 'Ulu trees to make their own special treats, in about 5 to 7 years.I also have a great video of Kauhi Maunakea-Forth making 'Ulu Poi.  

Kauhi Maunakea-Forth

Other activities during the 'Ulu Festival were a demonstration on the preparation of an 'Ulu Fritter by Chef Casey Halpern from Cafe Pesto, and Shirley Kauhaihao, a Hawaiian cultural practitioner from Kona demonstrated how to make 'Ulu Taro Salad. Uncle Keikialoha Keikipi conducted a ceremonial 'Ulu tree planting that commemorated the 10-year anniversary of Kua O Ka La PCS.

 Colorful Keiki

Fourteen recipes were entered in the cooking contest with a variety of unique recipes, and the winners are:

Appetizer:
1st – Genji Nakada, Hilo – Breadfruit Chips; 2nd – Honey Burns, Pahoa – 'Ulu dip; 3rd – Piilani Chavez, Hilo – 'Ulu Cod fish Salad.
Entree:
1st – Ann Kobsa, Pahoa – 'Ulu Purial; 2nd – Kua O Ka La School, Pualaa – 'Ulu Quiche; 3rd – Celeste Aleah, Pahoa – Aina Lasagna
Desserts:
1st – Raven Hannah & Jeremy Lutes, Pahoa – Punana Cookies; 2nd – Eno Gerard, Panaewa, Hilo – 'Ulu Custard Pie; 3rd – Courtney Spalding-Mayer Nakada Farms, Kapoho – 'Ulu Ice Cream
Best of Show:
Raven Hannah & Jeremy Lutes – Punana Cookies
Healthiest Choice:
Ann Kobsa –'Ulu Purial

The Puna 'Ulu Festival was sponsored by Kamehameha Schools, Hooulu Lahui, Kua O Ka La Public Charter School, Hawaii Homegrown Food Network and the Breadfruit Institute of the National Tropical Botanical Garden and it is part of a larger statewide effort to revitalize breadfruit for food security called Hooulu ka 'Ulu.


Videos on the PUNAVERSE Channel on Youtube

Shayla and Asacia Singing beautiful mele.

Kauhi Maunakea-Forth making 'Ulu Poi

Brudda Kuz



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