The menu of activities showcasing Hawaii’s distinctive food products and cuisine continues to evolve with delicious options for groups. Following are some of the possibilities.
Food Tours
Walking food tours of Honolulu give participants the chance to visit unique eateries and sample local foods they might not otherwise discover, says Stephanie Wu, national sales manager for AlliedPRA, a Hawaii-based DMC. Especially popular are walking tours of Chinatown led by chef Chai Chaowasaree, owner of Chef Chai restaurant and executive chef for Hawaiian Airlines.
“What we’ll do is transfer the group to Chinatown to a lei shop where everyone gets a hand-made lei,” Wu says. “Then chef Chai will lead everyone through the markets of Chinatown, where people can taste exotic fruits and Asian noodles and shop for ingredients. Then we’ll head to his restaurant for an interactive cooking class followed by lunch.”
On Kauai, Tasting Kauai offers an array of food tours around the island, which feature stops to taste street foods, sample gelato in tropical flavors and interact with local farmers, chefs and artisans. Its new Royal Coconut Coast Kauai food tour features a stop at a family-owned farm where participants sample traditional Hawaiian foods and learn about taro farming as well as the plantation history of the area. A portion of the proceeds from all tours benefits the Hawaii Foodbank Kauai Branch.
Chefs’ Farms
Many of Hawaii’s celebrated chefs maintain farms that produce ingredients for their restaurants. Some are the focus of group outings, including O’o Farm on Maui, where chef JJ Johnson leads farms tours and prepares a lunch on-site.
“It’s a great organic farm where guests get to pick their own vegetables and learn about organic farming,” Wu says. “Then you enjoy a salad of the fresh-picked vegetables while the chef cooks on a wood-burning oven. It’s the ultimate farm-to-table experience.”
Evening Events
While not all meeting attendees can devote a day or afternoon to food experiences, everyone can enjoy them during an evening event. Receptions can easily feature interactive food stations that highlight some of Hawaii’s signature food products, according to Wu.
“For instance, we can bring in people from Big Island Bees, a major supplier of local honey, for a honey tasting,” she says. “Or you can taste the amazing varieties of Hawaii salt or shortbread cookies hand-dipped in Hawaiian chocolate for you on the spot.”
Another option is dinner fit for a king. Among the new offerings from Gourmet Events Hawaii is Dinner Inspired by King Kalakaua held at Honolulu’s Iolani Palace, the only official royal residence in the U.S. The elegant evening features food, drink and entertainment reminiscent of Kalakaua’s era in the late 19th century.
