 Nearly 2,250 hungry fans of forage-fed meat attended
the A Decade of Mealani's A Taste of the Hawaiian
Range Agricultural Festival, held at the Hilton
Waikoloa Village on September 16. The Taste is an
educational event providing a venue to raise public
awareness of livestock agriculture and support for
local agricultural products in Hawai‘i. Thirty chefs donated their
time and expertise to the event, which is sponsored by CTAHR’s
Cooperative Extension Service and Mealani Research Station. An
additional 35 booths featured displays by vendors, agricultural
associations, and the college. Twenty-four Big Island producers
donated vegetables to complement the beef, pork, mutton, lamb,
goat, poultry, and sausages provided by Hawai‘i ranches and farms.
In all, 89 individuals and businesses contributed to make the event possible.
 This year’s event featured awards to local producers in recognition of their dedication to the food
show and the community. These went to rancher Rick Habein, who was named Outstanding Rancher,
and to Wendell Kawano, Kawano Farms, Inc. Governor Linda Lingle recognized each award recipient
with a proclamation. The event was featured on the Pacific Fusion television show, hosted by
former Miss Universe Brooke Lee. Show #6 aired on PACIFIC FUSION, an innovative and dynamic
weekly television magazine that explores and illuminates the diversity and flair of Asian-Pacific-
American people and lifestyles in the major television markets of the San Francisco Bay area, Honolulu,
and Seattle and other cable programs: ImaginAsianTV, America One TV, Dish Network Colours
Channel, and Urban America TV. Food writers have rated this CTAHR event as one of the bestvalued
food events in the state of Hawai‘i, attracting guest from all major Hawaiian islands, 22
mainland states, and 5 foreign countries.
A big mahalo to the many donors, sponsors, supporters, and volunteers from CTAHR and the
community who make the Taste possible. Mahalo nui to Jane Testa, Diane Ley, and Margarita
Hopkins of the Department of Research and Development, County of Hawai‘i, and to the Hawai‘i
Tourism Authority for their support of the program. Thanks to all 19 produce farmers and 18 ranchers
who provided the freshest and highest quality products on the island. Thanks also to Hilton Waikoloa
for providing a wonderful venue for the event. Many thanks to the members of the Planning Committee,
especially from the community and local businesses: Rick Habein (Habein Livestock Co.), Chef
Willie Pirngruber (Hilton Waikoloa Village), Chef Miles Togikawa (Waikoloa Beach Marriott), Tom
Asano (Kulana Foods, Ltd.), Mary Leleiwi (Big Island Farm Bureau), and Craig Pagaduan, Len
Hiraoka, Leanne Pletcher, Kenny Omiya, and Michael Blaksteen of the Hilton Waikoloa Village.
CTAHR planning committee members included Merrissa Uchimura, Michael DuPonte, Mark Thorne,
Randy Hamasaki, Milton Yamasaki, and Glen Fukumoto.
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