NAWILIWILI — Rice growing in Kekaha drew a lot of attention, set up around the podium at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club, Puna Court for the Rice, Sake and Raw Fish scholarship fundraiser for the Hawaii Lodging and
NAWILIWILI — Rice growing in Kekaha drew a lot of attention, set up around the podium at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club, Puna Court for the Rice, Sake and Raw Fish scholarship fundraiser for the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, Kauai Chapter Thursday.
“I went out to get the rice today,” said Sandi Kato-Klutke, event hostess. “After this is done, if you want to take the plants home, you’re welcome to them. I lugged them here all the way from Kekaha, and I’m not bringing them home.”
Nearly a hundred people took advantage of the theme, Rice, Sake and Raw Fish, to sample pairings of sake and rice, or fish dishes prepared by the Kauai Marriott culinary staff with sake pairings coordinated by Eric Fujimoto and his staff at Young’s Market.
Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama took advantage of the rice-laced atmosphere to talk about Hoopulapula Haraguchi Rice Mill in Hanalei where six generations of a family is keeping the agriculture and culture of the Hanalei Valley alive at the last and only historic rice mill in the state.
The Kauai Chamber of Commerce staff of Chantal Zarbaugh and Carol Manera Texeira lent their expertise, too.
Other sponsors include the KOA Trading Co., Hawaii Gas, First Hawaiian Bank, Kauai Shrimp, Ti Leaf and Taro, and BASF for providing the live rice samples.
