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 thirteenth 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 Cattlemen’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.
2008 PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
CTAHR
Eunice Domingo
Marla Fergerstrom
Randall Hamasaki
Trent Hata
Susan Miyasaka, co-chair
Milton Yamasaki
Big Island Farm Bureau
Randy Cabral
Lorie Farrell
Ken Kaneshiro
Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council
Michelle Galimba, co-chair
Jeri Moniz
Hawaii Cattlemen's Association
Lisa Wood
Aileen Wung-Yeh
Community Volunteer
Joan Namkoong
Kulana Foods
Tom Asano
Hilton Waikoloa
Kelly Alatan
Michael Blaksteen
Kristin Coppin
Len Hiraoka
Fred Lau
Ken Omiya
“Willy” Pirngruber
Leanne Pletcher
Derek Tolentino
Meredith Wertz
