Mealani’s A Taste of the HawaiianRange
The food festival originated in the small ranching town of Waimea (Kamuela). It began in 1996 as a humble companion event to the Cooperate Extension Services' Mealani Forage Field Day. In partnership with the local community, the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) has pioneered a unique learning opportunity for ranchers and consumers. Now in its fourteenth year, the Taste has become one of Hawaii's premier ag-tourism events.
Community Ownership The Taste is a partnership between CTAHR, Big Island Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattleman’s Association, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, Kulana Foods, and community volunteers. The quality and growth of this event are rooted in small-business participation, sponsorship, and in-kind donations. The Taste is an opportunity for all to get involved in cultivating community.
Giving Back to the Community
The food festival is not a fundraiser, but rather a promotion of Hawaii and Big island agriculture.
VISION & MISSION
The purpose of the Taste is to provide an educational venue to encourage and support local production of agricultural products through social, cultural, and scientific exchanges featuring a diverse array of talents brought together for the purpose of developing an ethos of compatibility, tranquility, and sustainability with this land we co-inhabit.
2009 PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
2009 TASTE EXECUTIVE BOARD Chair Leomi Bergknut, Community Member Vice-Chair Jeri Moniz, Rancher and Chef Coordinator Committee Chair Secretary Mary Kaheiki, CTAHR Treasurer Susan C. Miyasaka, Finance Committee Chair and Trade Show Committee Chair, CTAHR
Milton Yamasaki, Logistics Committee Chair, CTAHR’s Mealani Research Station Farm Manager
Michelle Galimba, Former Chair, Kuahiwi Ranch and current Education Committee Chair, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council
2009 TASTE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Tom Asano, Chef Coordinator Committee, Kulana Foods Ltd.
Chris English, Meat Donation Committee Chair, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Association
Lorie Farrell, Fiscal Agent, Big Island Farm Bureau
Marla Fergerstrom, Logistics Committee, CTAHR
Ken Kaneshiro, Fruit & Vegetable Donation Committee Chair, Community Member
Earl Tanaka, Fiscal Agent, Big Island Farm Bureau
2009 TASTE SUB-COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Carolyn Classen, Finance Member
Richard Johnson, Trade Show Member
Lesley Hill, Trade Show Member
Christine Leonard-Osterwalder, Finance Member
Ken Love, Trade Show Member
Delan “Rusty” Perry, Finance Member
Chef William Trask, Education Member
Hilton Waikoloa Village ®
Kelly Alatan
Charles Charbonneau
Kristine Coppin
Presley Hart
Fred Lau
Abby Murtagh
Leanne Pletcher
Derek Tolentino
