Weekend Update: September 30 - October 2

This weekend's blog update is going to be difficult for me. Frankly, I can't seem to wrap my mind around anything past tomorrow's (Sept 30) Mealani's Taste of the Hawaiian Range. Since about April, the fact the Taste is less than six months away always puts me in a better mood.  The Taste of the Range to me is the food version of Christmas: it's a special day that happens only once a year when a jolly fat man brings me lots of presents. Only the presents are wonderful, delectable culinary treasures, and the jolly fat man is, in fact, THIRTY of Hawaii's premier chefs!  That's 30 presents, ladies. Pardon me a moment while I stop to wipe the drool.  Tonight, I'll have a hard time sleeping, eventually drifting off with visions of lamb, grass-fed beef, and Kamuela tomatoes in my mind (don't ask). For more information check out the Taste of the Hawaiian Range blog.

Alas, I must move on.

If you don't head up to the Hilton Waikoloa for the Taste of the Range, there's always the Friday Movie Under the Stars at Queens' Marketplace. This week's movie: Catch That Kid. I know, pales by comparison, right (yes, I'm still thinking about the Taste).  Here's the plot: A girl and her two friends raid a bank, looking for the money needed for financing the cure of her dying father. 4.7/10 on IMDb, but if you'd like to catch Kristen Stewart pre-Twilight, go check it out. 


Saturday, starting from the far north (if you actually read this blog weekly, you'll find I don't have an actual set way of doing things. hopefully it's not too annoying - it's a voluntary effort people,  be happy. :)...

The Kohala Country Fair will be keeping things lively in Hawi this weekend. From 9:00 to 4:30 on Saturday, there's fun for the whole family. A day filled with art & craft vendors, local entertainment throughout the day, ono food and drinks, and lots of keiki activities. Come and experience the greener, sustainable Kohala Fair.  From their website:

Already the biggest country fair on the Big Island, this yearʼs fair expands to an exciting new 10-acre location. The fair will have something for everyone in the family, including all-day live entertainment, demonstrations ranging from Ipu carving to kava preparation, an international assortment of ono foods, crafts to meet every budget, and lots of games and contests. Old favorites like Spam-carving and lua-decorating will be back along with many new offerings. Our rich history in ranching and agriculture are this yearʼs featured themes. Youʼll be able to watch Paniolo riding and roping, learn about animal husbandry, and view the historic tree saddle display. Local farmers will be sharing their ag practices and delicious produce. Make sure you visit the “Made in North Kohala Food Booth” showing value added products. Look for the “Master Gardener” advice booth and the seed exchange. The fairgrounds will be comfortable rain or shine, with a large tented pavilion for dining and a covered amphitheater for entertainment.

As we come back towards Kona, driving past the Hilton Waikoloa where everyone is sleeping off their food bender, we have the Home Depot Kids' Workshop, which runs from 9am to 12pm. This weekend, the kids will build a fire rescue helicopter.  Thank you Home Depot! Buy some stuff while your there...

Stop by the Keauhou Farmer's Market at the Keauhou Shopping Center as you drive further south. KAMA doesn't cover this weekly, but it's a great farmer's market selling real locally grown produce and products.  They also have monthly Chef-Farmer presentations.

In South Kona, we have the Kona Historical Society's Portuguese Festival from 10am to 4pm. Celebrate the Portuguese contributions to Hawaii's ranching heritage, with a day of fun activities including live music, saddlemaking demos, paniolo artisans, local food, fresh malasadas, stone oven baked sweetbread, and a petting zoo. Free tours of the H.N. Greenwell Store Museum from 2-3:30pm.

Teach your children well and drive to Honaunau for the One Island Sustainable Center's Green Living Celebration & Solar Tour from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. One Island's Sustainable Living Center and the American Solar Energy Society invite you to come explore and celebrate solar technologies and great green living tools and practices. There will be solar tours and demonstrations, aquaponics and local foods, green building materials & designs, body care and well-being, innovative technologies, music and art, keiki fun tent, plant and green product sale. Registration, exhibits, presentations, music and art will be featured at One Island's organic farm and demonstration center in Honaunau. Festival is FREE! Self-guided, ala carte tours to local nearby Honaunau showcase sites from 10am-4pm include solar powered electric - grid-ties and off-grid, solar hot water - roof and ground mount, solar refrigeration, solar water pumping, aquaponics, bamboo building, bio-fuels, solar land and marine transportation. Tours are a $10 donation per person for as many sites as you want to visit. Learn more and register here or by calling 808-212-3547. To RSVP, email hawaii@one-island.org

On Sunday, head down to Hale Halewai for the 26th Annual PATH 5K/10K Fun Run - Free Keiki Dash.  The $25 entry fee  ($20 +$5 late fee after 9/30) for your child (under 14) goes towards benefitting PATH’s traffic safety educational programs. Register here.

Love you all KAMA Mamas! Have a great weekend, and don't worry if you don't here from me right away. I'll just be recovering from my food coma.