LIHUE — Lani Kaui is running out of time, and is looking for Filipino desserts. “We have the Filipino Dessert Contest coming up Saturday,” said Kaui, educational outreach director at the Kauai Museum. “The possibilities are endless — buchi, or
LIHUE — Lani Kaui is running out of time, and is looking for Filipino desserts.
“We have the Filipino Dessert Contest coming up Saturday,” said Kaui, educational outreach director at the Kauai Museum. “The possibilities are endless — buchi, or rice cakes; Maruya, or banana fritters; Turan Saba, or banana plantain rolls; or Polyoron, or cookies.”
The dessert contest is part of the monthly Kauai Museum’s Ohana Day program on the first Saturday of the month.
Saturday also marks the start of a new policy, Kaui said: “Every Saturday free for kamaaina at the Kauai Museum.”
“This is the kamaaina’s museum,” said Jane Gray, Kauai Museum executive director. “We want people coming to a place which really belongs to them. My desire is to have kamaaina visit and learn more about the immigrants and Hawaiian cultures.”
The Kauai Museum Board of Directors recently voted on the motion to open the doors of the historic building on Rice Street free to kamaaina on Saturdays.
Kaui said kamaaina will have free admission on Saturdays and visitors will enjoy special rates until further notice.
Other features of Saturday’s event include a one-hour presentation by the Jose Bulatao dancers, the Bailes de Jose Troupe, starting at 10:30 a.m. featuring a dozen dancers ranging in age from 15 to 70 years old.
“Dance belongs to everyone,” Jose Bulatao said on the formation of the Bailes de Jose Troupe. “I wanted to form the troupe with a unique mix of nationalities on the island, having Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, Caucasian and Hawaiian ethnic diversities.”
Lunch, featuring an array of Filipino cuisine, will be served at noon.
Any kind of dessert will be accepted for the dessert contest, Kaui said.
Entries will be judged on taste, texture and appearance. To qualify, bakers should submit a minimum of one tray of their dessert creations by 11 a.m. Saturday. All entries will be on sale with proceeds to benefit the Kauai Museum.
The museum receives about 1,800 visitors each month.
The main gallery in the Kauai Museum is alive with the stories and artifacts from early migration and settling of Kauai through the days of the last ruling alii on the island, states a Kauai Museum release.
Visitors are able to see an array of treasures representing the Hawaiian culture. These include a hale, or Hawaiian thatched hut, and a 30-foot koa fishing canoe displayed from the ceiling.
Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday.
Info: 245-6931 or www.kauaimuseum.org.
