PO‘IPU — The liberal use of monkeypod wood from a downed tree at ‘Ele‘ele School highlighted the 25th anniversary of Keoki’s Paradise at the Po‘ipu Shopping Village. Elizabeth Freeman was contracted to do interior upgrades to the popular Po‘ipu eatery,
PO‘IPU — The liberal use of monkeypod wood from a downed tree at ‘Ele‘ele School highlighted the 25th anniversary of Keoki’s Paradise at the Po‘ipu Shopping Village.
Elizabeth Freeman was contracted to do interior upgrades to the popular Po‘ipu eatery, and through the use of photographs from Hanapepe photographer Tim Dela Vega, transformed an area which was “just a wall,” into a casual seating area enhanced by photos of Kalalau Valley, each one framed with monkeypod from the school.
“You know how I don’t like to see anything go to waste,” Freeman said during an earlier conversation. “By incorporating the wood from a tree that had to be felled due to student safety, it gets new life here in Po‘ipu.”
In addition to the interior upgrade, Maile Shklov, Beverage Manager for Keoki’s, said the lounge area finished installing the Blizzard system for the coldest beer on the island.
“It’s guaranteed at 29 degrees,” Shklov said. “If it goes warmer than that, it means the machine is broken and we have it repaired.”
The Blizzard System features an assortment of draft beer including three Kona brews including Longboard Lager, Duke’s Blond Ale and Kona Lava Man.
The local brews are joined by Bud Lite, Stella, Blue Moon, Mirror Pond and Heineken in addition to one seasonal tap, Shklov said.
“Right now, the seasonal tap is Smithwicks,” Shklov said. “Do you know what you get when you blend Lava Man and Duke’s? It’s called Hapa.”
Manette DeCosta, the Marketing and Banquet Manager at Keoki’s, said the interior upgrades have been a hit with diners and guests, some coming to inquire after reading about the reborn tree.
For the special 25th anniversary celebration, diners were treated to a special buffet anchored by a prime rib station, a chocolate dip strawberry station, and a sangria station.
Rohotu, a Polynesian halau under the direction of Wallis Punua, provided the entertainment which was punctuated by a special video-taping of a cupcake war between Westy Kessler and Tiare Shim.
“These people from the Sugar Mill Cupcakes are trying to get featured on The Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, and the taping was a segment of a tape they’re sending for consideration,” DeCosta said.
Keoki’s Paradise, and its sister restaurant, Duke’s Kaua‘i at Kalapaki Beach, are owned by TS Restaurants Hawai‘i and California.
