Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

2150 Tantalus Drive, Honolulu, HI  96813

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 5, 2011,

PAPAKŌLEA CELEBRATION HONORS KAHIAU FOUNDATION

NEW COMMERCIAL KITCHEN SUPPORTS HOMESTEAD COOKS AND YOUTH

Honolulu, Hawaii – The Hawaiian homestead community of Papakōlea will celebrate the opening of the Papakōlea Commercial Kitchen on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 11 am.  Residents will honor and dedicate its new facility to the father of the founder of the Kahiau Foundation, the late Mr. Alexander Kaleipapanuionamoku Wong.  Festivities will be held at the Papakōlea Community Parkand Center.

Lunch will be prepared by multiple generations of Papakōlea cooks. An “open kitchen” from 1pm – 3pm will provide residents a chance to walk through the new facility. (The new facility was blessed on Sept. 27. Click this link to view a story and photos from the blessing event.)

A friend and neighbor of early residents of Papakōlea, Mr. Wong expressed to his daughters, his desire to return to Papakōlea and support the families of his youth.  In 2010, Allene Wong, advisor to the Kahiau Foundation Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, recommended  $298,000 grant award to Papakōlea Community Development Corporation to build Papakōleaʻs first fully equipped commercial kitchen.

The kitchen will serve as an incubator for food service and food manufacturing businesses headed by entrepreneurs from Papakōlea. It will also create service-learning opportunities for homestead youth as well as support the operation of the Papakōlea Community Center and Park. A nearby community garden will also provide produce to food operators and support Papakōlea’s “garden to plate” initiative.

Founded in 1999, Papakōlea Community Development Corporation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a healthy, innovative and sustainable community in the Hawaiian homestead of Papakōlea.

Media welcome to film and to report on this event 

For more information, please contact
Richard Soo, President Papakōlea CDC, at cell #227-2239.

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