LIHU‘E — Chef Mark Sassone filled the first spot of the Mayor’s Perpetual Trophy, Saturday, at Kukui Grove Center. He went head-to-head with Chef Raphael Camarillo of the Courtyard by Marriott Kaua‘i at Coconut Beach to win the first chef
LIHU‘E — Chef Mark Sassone filled the first spot of the Mayor’s Perpetual Trophy, Saturday, at Kukui Grove Center.
He went head-to-head with Chef Raphael Camarillo of the Courtyard by Marriott Kaua‘i at Coconut Beach to win the first chef contest at the Easter Seals Gingerbread Family Festival.
Sassone impressed the judges with his rendition of the Kilauea Lighthouse done in gingerbread with colorful condiment adornments.
Camarillo turned to the audience to help him build a community gingerbread house, drawing a line of people anxious to help place a condiment on the large creation. That effort yielded the spirit award for Camarillo who said the house will be available for viewing at the Waipouli resort through the holidays.
Ellen Ching of Easter Seals said this is the first time they’ve hosted a chef contest, and based on the response, are already looking ahead.
In addition to the chef contest, the festival exploded with new facets this year. Jason Fujinaka, the on-air personality for FM97, served as the day’s emcee, walking shoppers through the different facets which included kid tattoos, a keiki gingerbread house contest, Happy the Clown, and a full slate of live entertainment.
“There were 29 entries in the keiki contest which was judged by former Kaua‘i Mayor Maryanne Kusaka, Gini Kapali of Kukui‘ula Development, and Winnie Lu,” said Lizann Vidinha, office administrator for Easter Seals.
Na Kama Pono Preschool earned top honors in the Preschool division followed by St. Theresa Preschool of Kekaha, and the Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity Learning Center Preschool in Kalaheo getting the nod for third place.
Marcial Geronimo, Kealumalu Ka‘awa, Jaelynn Munar, Noah Naka‘ahiki, Julie and Remigio Amelia Slyan made up the team from the Grade 2 A-Plus program at ‘Ele‘ele School that won top honors in the A-Plus division.
“‘Ele‘ele School swept that division,” said Fujinaka. “Their second grade got top, the fifth grade got second, and another second grade got third place.”
Throughout the excitement, individual families created their own memories with gingerbread house kits they worked on in the food court area of the mall.
The entertainment lineup included the Arc Angels who were able to pull Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., a celebrity judge, in for Christmas carols, Hula Halau Na Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala, the Kapa‘a Middle School Choir and ‘Ukulele Band, Maluhia with Zabby, and the Showtime Characters, a regular feature at the mall.
“For those who missed the event, we have a limited supply of kits available for families to work on at home,” Ching said. Kits can be obtained for $29, $19 being tax deductible by calling 645-0068.
“This is just going to get bigger,” Ching said.
Helping put the festival together, Easter Seals event sponsors include the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, Longs Drugs, Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering, Kaua‘i Community College, Kukui Grove, and The Gas Co.
Visit www.eastersealshawaii.org for more information, or call 245-7141.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
