LIHU‘E — Tickets to the 25th anniversary of the Taste of Hawaii hosted by the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a are available at locations around the island. The event will feature 50 chefs from around the state, more than 15 beverage vendors,
LIHU‘E — Tickets to the 25th anniversary of the Taste of Hawaii hosted by the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a are available at locations around the island.
The event will feature 50 chefs from around the state, more than 15 beverage vendors, more than 10 musical and entertainment groups, and the traditional silent auction, coming together at the Smith’s Tropical Paradise in Wailua.
“It’s an opportunity in one afternoon to sample the cuisine, the finest dishes of the best chefs around,” said Rotarian Ron Margolis.
Paula O’Very-Saylor, chairwoman, said The Ultimate Sunday Brunch has been voted as the best community event for eight years running, and patrons are encouraged to get their tickets ahead of the June 2 event because it consistently sells out.
It usually attracts around 1,000 people.
Opening at 11:30 a.m. and running until 3:30 p.m., the beverage vendors and chefs offer a tasting extravaganza under a canopy of music. There will be four stages throughout the tropical garden with continuous live entertainment.
Parking will be at the lot between the Courtyard by Marriott and the Kaua‘i Beach Boy hotels, and air conditioned buses will run continuously from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Advance tickets are $100 and can be acquired at ticket outlets or by visiting www.tasteofhawaii.com. Ticket prices at the door on June 2 will be $115 per person.
Ticket outlets include Hanalei Surf Co. and Magic Dragon in the Princeville Shopping Center on the North Shore; Jim Saylor Jewelers, Vicky’s Fabrics and the Shell Factory in Kapa‘a; Deli & Bread Connection and Inkspot Quality Printing in Lihue; Progressive Expressions in Koloa and the Westside Pharmacy on the Westside.
Tickets can also be acquired by calling 639-0389.
Taste of Hawaii is the primary source of fundraising of the Rotary Club of Kapaa for its annual operating budget.
In some past years, it’s netted as much as $100,000.
“It’s been our best fundraising event,” Margolis said.
Proceeds from the event are used for the Rotary Club of Kapaa’s scholarship programs for high school and vocational studies for community college students.
Other Rotary Club of Kapaa projects include recognition of outstanding humanitarian vocational contributions, community projects that provide financial support directly to other nonprofits, community organizations that provide or support youth programs, programs for the homeless and hungry, and local town refurbishing projects.
Recently, the Rotary Club of Kapaa spearheaded the installation of water safety videos at the Lihue Airport in response to the large number of ocean fatalities.
This project ties in with the organization’s support of the Rescue Tube project, which is headed by the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay.
Visit www.tasteofhawaii.com or call 639-0389 for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
