Nori Wrap at Coconut Cup and Juice Bar in Kapaa. Daniel Lane photo

Coconut Cup Juice Bar

Coconut Cup is now selling two kinds of breakfast burritos: Black Forest ham and cheese or roasted red pepper, organic spinach and cheese. “They are made with organic eggs, wrapped in spinach tortillas, and served with Sal’s Salsa!” Says owner Christa Hall. “Please come try!” They are served from 8 a.m. to noon daily.

Kauai Voted Second Best Island in the U.S.

On March 26, MauiNow.com reported that based on reviews of “millions of travelers around the world,” TripAdvisor, one of the largest online travel websites, announced that three Hawaiian islands landed in the top 10 ranking. Maui was recognized as the No. 5 top US island, but was edged out by Kauai which ranked No. 2 on the list. The Big Island was rated No. 8.

Kealia Sunrise by Daniel Lane

Monsanto Protection Act language, Now Officially U.S. Law

On March 26, President Barack Obama signed H.R. 993, which put what critics call the Monsanto Protection Act into law. “This is an outrage that will not go unanswered,” says the guys at Food Democracy Now!, a grassroots community dedicated to building a sustainable food system that protects our natural environment, sustains farmers and nourishes families.
“While we are still waiting to hear from the administration all the final details, we understand at this time that Section 735, the Monsanto biotech rider is intact. President Obama knowingly signed the Monsanto Protection Act over the insistence of more than 250,000 Americans who signed an urgent letter asking that he use his executive authority to veto H.R. 933 and send it back to Congress to remove the Monsanto Protection Act from the bill. Regretfully, President Obama failed to live up to his oath to protect the American people and our constitution.”
Sec. 735: In the event that a determination of non-regulated status made pursuant to section 411 of the Plant Protection Act is or has been invalidated or vacated, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon request by a farmer, grower, farm operator, or producer, immediately grant temporary permit(s) or temporary deregulation in part, subject to necessary and appropriate conditions consistent with section 411(a) or 412(c) of the Plant Protection Act, which interim conditions shall authorize the movement, introduction, continued cultivation, commercialization and other specifically enumerated activities and requirements, including measures designed to mitigate or minimize potential adverse environmental effects, if any, relevant to the Secretary’s evaluation of the petition for non-regulated status, while ensuring that growers or other users are able to move, plant, cultivate, introduce into commerce and carry out other authorized activities in a timely manner: Provided, That all such conditions shall be applicable only for the interim period necessary for the Secretary to complete any required analyses or consultations related to the petition for non-regulated status: Provided further, That nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the Secretary’s authority under section 411, 412 and 414 of the Plant Protection Act.
In a statement to MSN News, a USDA spokesperson said, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack “has asked the Office of General Council to review this provision as it appears to preempt judicial review of a deregulatory action which may make the provision unenforceable.”
If you’d like your voice heard, tell President Obama to issue an Executive Order requiring the mandatory labeling of GMOs.

Grant Opportunity from CDC RFP for State Depts of Health

The State Public Health Actions to Prevent and Control Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity and Associated Risk Factors and Promote School Health – FOA – DP13-1305 outlines an approach to preventing and reducing the risk factors associated with childhood and adult obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke; it also addresses management of these chronic diseases. The activities and strategies outlined in this FOA are organized by the four chronic disease prevention and health promotion domains: 1) Epidemiology and surveillance; 2) Environmental approaches that promote health and support and reinforce healthful behaviors; 3) Health system interventions to improve the effective delivery and use of clinical and other preventive services; and 4) Community-clinical linkages to support cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes prevention and control efforts and the management of chronic diseases. For more information about the grant please visit the government grants website. Application deadline is April 19, 2013.

Funding opportunity announcement from the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) – Childhood Obesity Prevention

The Childhood Obesity Program supports Multi-function Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. This page includes links to the request for applications (RFA), the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide, the application package, and abstracts of funded projects. Close date April 11, 2013.

7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference

The National Farm to School Network is excited to announce that the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference will take place April 15 – 18, 2014 in Austin, Texas. The conference, held every-other year, brings together local food systems advocates, food service professionals, farmers, educators, policy makers, representatives from government agencies and nonprofits, entrepreneurs, students and others who are breaking down barriers and expanding the impact of the Farm to Cafeteria movement across the country. Short courses and field trips will be offered April 15 and the general program will take place April 16-18. Information regarding the conference program, registration, lodging and more will be posted in the coming months on the Farm to Cafeteria Conference website. Explore the website now to learn more about last year’s great speakers, workshops and special events. You won’t want to miss Austin in 2014!

Monkeypod Jam’s tropical fruit spreads. Daniel Lane photo.

Monkeypod Jam

Monkeypod Jam will bring the tastes of Kauai to Oahu on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4. To help celebrate Foodland’s 65 years of business, R. Fields, Aina Haina will host Monkeypod Jam creator, Aletha Thomas for an afternoon jam tasting between four and six. The public is invited to come sample Kauai’s local produce resulting in wonderful flavor blends such as Mountain Apple Pepper Jelly, Papaya Vanilla Jam, Tahitian Lime Curd, Spiced Tomato Jam, Caracara Ginger Marmalade and Banana Foster Jam.
On Saturday, May 4, Aletha will showcase Monkeypod’s fruit preserves at the Ala Moana William-Sonoma Artisan Market, which takes places the first Saturday of each month. Shoppers are encouraged to attend this monthly event to try products created by artisanal food crafters across the state of Hawaii. Monkeypod will share six different preserves, and each will be available for purchase at farmers market prices.
Both events will share company and product information along with listings of where to find Monkeypod Jam throughout Oahu. Select preserves are currently available for purchase through R. Fields Wine Company at Foodland Aina Haina, Ala Moana, Market City, Kapolei, Kailua and Beretania.
Monkeypod Jam began in June of 2010, when middle school teacher, Aletha Thomas was placed on furlough. Each furlough Friday, Aletha created unique Kauai fruit jams, jellies, marmalades and curds, utilizing traditional French preservation techniques. Today, Monkeypod Jam works with over 25 Kauai farmers to create 55 seasonal preserves. Monkeypod is deeply committed to Kauai agriculture, green practices and impeccably high preserving standards. The company’s unabashed flavor combinations have captured the interest of Hawaii’s prominent chefs and shop owners. In September of 2012, Monkeypod Jam started stocking the shelves of select off-island retail outlets. Later this year, the company hopes to increase its availability to over fifty shops throughout Hawaii.
EVENTS:
Saturday, March 30

Wine Tasting

The Wine Garden, 4 to 7 p.m., free
The Wine Garden we’ll be celebrating by featuring a sampling of wines made by some fabulous Women Winemakers.

• Eileen Crane, Domaine Carneros
• Danielle Cyrot, Cade Winery
• Kathy Joseph, Fiddlehead Cellars
• Carol Shelton, Carol Shelton Wines
• Helen Falcone, Falcone Family Vineyards

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Wine Dinner

Plantation Gardens, 5:30 p.m., $85
The Wine Shop in Koloa, in partnership with Plantation Gardens Restaurant at Kiahuna Plantation Resort, is hosting a Storybook Wines event featuring a 4-course dinner. The Wine Shop has carefully chosen an excellent combination of different varietals from exceptional winemakers that will please every palate. The 4-courses and their respective wine pairings are as follows:

• 1st Course, Crab Cakes with a Pass-O-Guava Coullet, 2010 Estate Viognier
• 2nd Course, Sautéed Ono with a Pink Peppercorn Aioli, 2009 Mayacamas Zinfandel
• 3rd Course, Sliced London Broil with a Cabernet Reduction, 2008 Seps Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
• 4th Course, Assorted Cheeses from Around the World, 2009 Antaeus

Reservations are required. Please contact The Wine Shop at 808-742-7305 to secure your seating.
Saturday, April 13

18th Annual Garden Fair

Kauai Community College, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., free
On Saturday morning the Kauai Community College front lawn will spring to life with gardeners, suppliers, garden lovers and consumers there to shop the wide variety of plants, landscape products and equipment, and to find out the latest gardening information and tips. Hosted by Kauai County Farm Bureau and University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources (CTAHR), the annual Kauai Garden Fair is one of the largest gatherings of green thumbs on Kauai and a great way to share the bounty of the island firsthand. Look for:

• Special All Day Farmers Market
• All Day Garden Talks and Demonstrations
• Educational, Government & Non-profit Resources for Your Farm or Home Garden
• Keiki Activities by 4-H and School Gardens
• Ono Local Foods & Plate Lunches all Day

For more information, visit the Kauai Garden Fair website.

Local musicians at Waipa’s Kalo Festival will return this April. Daniel Lane photo

Waipa Music Festival

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., adults $10, keiki 14 and under $1
Join Waipa at the beautiful Halulu Fishpond, along Hanalei Bay, for the first Waipa Music Festival. Relax and enjoy home grown live music, educational displays and demonstrations, hands-on activities, arts & crafts and, of course, amazing food from local chefs. This event is for construction of the Waipa Community Kitchen, Poi Mill & Hale Imu. The Waipa Foundation is a living learning center focused on taking care of our natural resources, practicing Hawaiian culture and values, and inspiring healthy keiki and community.

First course on a previous tour. Grilled eggplant with Lebanese dressing and marinated tomatoes. Daniel Lane photo

A Culinary Romp Through Paradise

Various locations in Kapaa, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., $130
Tasting Kauai’s Culinary Tour offers an intimate glimpse into the Garden Island’s culinary scene. We start with a farm tour and learn about exotic fruit grown on Kauai. At the Kauai Marriott Resort, we join executive chef Guy Higa for an outdoor cooking demonstration and gourmet, four-course lunch made with Kauai grown ingredients. Our last stop is at Nani Moon Mead, where we’ll get an exclusive tour of Hawaii’s only meadery, and sample all five honey wines in the Nani Moon Mead collection. Ticket price includes a bottle of mead. You can read what LandingStanding said about this tour, or visit our Kauai Culinary Tours page. We have a Facebook photo album that shows how much fun the tour is, and our 5-Star TripAdvisor reviews. Chef Higa donates proceeds from his portion of the tour to the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen. For a complete list of 2013 dates, check out our Kauai Culinary Tours Calendar. Call 808-635-0257 to make a reservation.
Saturday, April 20

Biochar Workshop

Kauai Nursery & Landscaping, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., free
Learn how to build and use a small biochar maker, as well as how biochar improves gardening and potting soil.

Explore in the Hanalei Valley where endangered birds flourish. Marta Lane photo

A Taste of Old Kauai

Waipa, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., $155
Tasting Kauai’s north shore tour is part agritourism and part ecotourism. We visit Waipa, one of 67 watersheds homesteaded by the first Polynesians, which remains undeveloped. This one-of-a-kind experience was designed by Tasting Kauai and the Waipa Foundation especially for those who wish to learn about traditional agriculture systems, endangered wildlife, and enjoy real Hawaiian food saturated in Kauai’s rugged beauty.
Tucked in a valley and surrounded by towering mountain ranges, our guests learn about Hawaii’s culture and food. Waipa is nestled in the Hanalei Valley which is an is a Wildlife Refuge and endangered birds flourish here. We explore a vast loi (taro garden) fed by auwai, or irrigation system, that supplies water from mountain streams.

Lunch is enjoyed on Hanalei Bay. Marta Lane photo

Next generation farmer, Sky Roversi-Deal. Daniel Lane photo

North Country Farms

Garden Workshop, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., $40 per person
“Want to get serious about growing food and eating off the land?” Asks Sky Roversi-Deal, of North Country Farms. “Of course you do, and so do we! But in order for our island’s nascent locally-based food movement to survive and thrive, we need to do more than just eat local vegetables, greens, and fruit, while importing beans, rice, and flour from out of state. Every culture has its “staple crops,” those dense plant foods like rice, bread, poi, and beans, rich in the carbohydrates that give us the energy to work and play and the proteins to build strong bodies and recover from injury. In conjunction with lots of fresh vegetables, fruit, meats, dairy, and seafoods, these foods are core components of a real and balanced diet, and need to be a significant part of our local food system as well.
“Whether you have acres of property or just a tiny backyard, years of garden experience or none at all, anyone can grow some of their own staples for food security, resilience, community building, profit, and pleasure. So come on over to North Country Farms and let Farmer Sky show you how. Sky has spent the past several years enthusiastically acquiring seed and plant stocks and learning to grow a number of staple crops through hands-on experience. Attendees will also receive some free, organically grown planting material and seeds to get started!”
Topics include:

• 

  North Country Farms. Daniel Lane photo

  
  Introduction to a select few tropical starchy root crops and pulses from around the world–all crops that North Country Farms has grown for years with great success and can highly recommend as easy-to-grow, nutritious, and tasty
• How to propagate and grow these versatile, nutritious staples, with an emphasis on simple, low-input, labor-saving methods
• Harvesting, preparing, and eating, with guidelines and recipe ideas

Advance registration with prepayment is required. To register, email Sky at [email protected], and send a money order or check payable to Sky Roversi-Deal to P.O. Box 723, Kilauea, HI 96754. You will receive a confirmation and directions to the farm. “Please bring a sunhat and a water bottle and leave the pets at home,” advises Sky. “We look forward to having you join us!”
 
Monday, April 29

The Power of the Indigenous: Native Success in Education and in Life

This event takes place in Honolulu, but I thought I’d post it because there is a lot of interest in this subject. Indigenous Educators, Ku-A-Kanaka and the Native American Alliance for Charter Schools (NAACS) presents The Power of the Indigenous: Native Success in Education and in Life, at the Hawaii Convention Center, in conjunction with Pacific Rim 2013 International Conference on Disabilities and Diversity.
This one-day Indigenous Education Institute brings together Hawaiian-focused and Native American Charter School leaders, as well as other global Indigenous educators to share Best Practices in Indigenous Education.
Topics include:

• Native Values Inform Modern Instruction
• Pedagogy of Place Drives 21st Century Curriculum
• Traditional Practices Shape Modern Assessments
• Local Communities Impart Global Skills and Responsibility

Each of the four 90-minute exchanges will be moderated by a facilitator and involve four, 15-minute speaker presentations, followed by a 15-minute small group discussion on the same topic, with the final 15 minutes to be used for discussion summaries and comments from the audience.
For more information about the Institute, or other information re: PacRim 2013 visit http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/pacriminfo/pacrim2013/specialevents/indigenous/, or call me at (808) 775-0867.
KU-A-KANAKA – Indigenous Institute for Culture and Language
P.O. Box 1764 Honokaa, Hawaii 96727
808-775-0867
ONGOING:
March 16 – March 30

Prince Kuhio Week

Two weeks of numerous events are set to celebrate Prince Kuhio’s birthday (an official state holiday in Hawaii). Kuhio was one of Hawaii’s most beloved alii (royalty) and statesmen. Located in Poipu, Eleele, Lihue and Wailua these events provide many interactive educational sessions about Hawaiian cultural practices and arts. Most events are free to the public. There are also diverse opportunities for entertainment and observing cultural traditions as well as attending luaus, an outrigger canoe race and commemorative ceremonies honoring Kuhio and his efforts to foster Hawaiian values. Proud to be a part of the Prince Kuhio Celebration. For more information, visit the Prince Kuhio website.

Foodie Highlights:

Friday, March 29th
Special Prince Kuhio Birthday Celebration Luau, 5 p.m.
The Smith family has been sharing the history and culture of the Wailua River Valley for more that 60 years. Kumu Kahai Topolinski will showcase photos and stories of Prince Kuhio and his family on the island of Kauai, and kupuna will “talk story” about local history and legends. Learn about the cooking style known as kalua during the imu (underground oven) ceremony and enjoy a bounty of food, drinks, and hula. For more information and reservations, call 808-821-6895
Saturday, March 30
3rd Annual Anahola Prince Kuhio Day Celebration
Anahola Beach Park, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Anahola.
Celebrate the late Jennie Loke Perreira (Aunty Loke) for her exceptional contribution and commitment to educational and cultural resources in the Anahola community. Participate in educational, health and wellness exhibits, performances, arts and crafts to honor the past and embrace the future of Prince Kuhio’s legacy. Enjoy food booths. No charge to the public. For more information: La Contrades at [email protected], 808-639-1754 or Lady Ipo Kahaunaele-Ferreira at [email protected]. Located at the end of Anahola Road (turn towards the ocean in Anahola from Hwy 56), Anahola, 96703.
ONGOING:

Daniel Lane photo

Entrepreneurial Apiary Workshop

Kauai Community College

• April 6,13,26,27
• May 3

Jimmy Trujillo offers four comprehensive classes beginning with an Introduction to Honey Harvest. Each class is $25. Register for all four classes at once and get the whole package for $75. Call 808-245-8318 for details.