Kona orange is listed in
Slow Food’s Ark of Taste catalog

Kona orange, which was first brought to the islands in 1792 with the Vancouver Expedition, was recently nominated and accepted by Slow Food’s committee into the Ark of Taste catalog. This catalog is a listing of foods facing extinction.

According to Slow Food Oahu Governor Laurie Carlson, the Ark of Taste catalog identifies and champions food to keep them in production and on people’s plates.

“Once listed, the product gets on people’s radar,” notes Carlson. “It may help the product be newly or rediscovered by the consumer. Inclusion could rally support for the product’s producers and share their stories.”

Case in point is 100 percent Kona coffee.

“We have had this coffee on the Ark of Taste for a number of years now. We know that blending has been a big issue for Kona coffee farmers for quite some time. The Ark listing has made it clear to informed consumers that buying 100 percent Kona coffee is the right thing to do. Finally, in this year’s legislative session, progress was made to restrict the use of the Kona name if an insufficient amount of Kona coffee is in the package.”

Other Hawaii commodities or value-added products already listed in the catalog include kalo poi, ‘ulu (breadfruit), Kiawe honey, Hawaiian raspberry, hua moa banana, maikoiko sugar cane and inamona.

Planted in Kona as the first orange in the islands, the Kona orange became a commercial crop of Hawaii Island and O‘ahu before it was in high demand during the Gold Rush in California. According to the Ark of Taste, the US Army distributed the oranges to WWII servicemen. After the war, the USDA reverted to pre-war rules regarding fruit fly regulation and exports. The oranges continued to be sold decades later at local markets and grocery stores.

Today, there is no commercial production of the Kona orange and any existing backyard trees are showing their age.

“Clonal propagation is needed now to protect and save the Kona orange,” says Ken Love, executive director of the statewide Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers and member of the four-person Ark of Taste committee. “The orange variety is currently threatened and available only through small farms and gardens for home consumption.”

With a tight skin and solid core, the Kona orange boasts a sweet and sub-acid flavor said to be similar to pineapple. It has a juicy pulp with 10-13 segments and is harvested from March through June. It is sometimes referred to as the Paris orange, as the family were the landowners where the original tree was planted.

As the trees are not available at nurseries, Carlson says an effort is needed to get new trees propagated and grafted. “We need to come up with a strategy to reproduce the Kona orange and find some grants to aid in that effort,” Carlson says.

“The Kona, or Paris, orange is perfectly adapted to Hawaii and it’s essential we protect it and expand its numbers,” adds Love. “Sweet and juicy, it’s the perfect citrus for Hawaii.”

Ka‘u Coffee Festival recipe contest winners

The winners of the recent Ka’u Coffee Festival 2024 are as follows:

Desserts

First Place Paty Fujimoto with her Ka‘u Coffee Layer Cake

Second Place: Brittany Zagoria with Ka‘u Coffee Sponge Cake in a Chocolate Bowl

Third Place: Cosette Paseka with Ka‘u Coffee Cupcakes with Ka‘u Coffee Buttercream Frosting with Coffee and Cayenne Candied Bacon

Pupus

First Place went to Paty Fujimoto with Tita Taquitos with Aikane Braised Kuahiwi Ranch Beef

Second Place to Kristin Davis with Goat Cheese with Ka‘u Lehua Honey

Third Place to Zane Monteleone with Burrata Salad with Ka‘u Balsamic Reduction

Entree

First Place to Keone Grace with Ka‘u Coffee Blackened Opakapaka

Second Place to Zane Monteleone with Maui Nui Venison Pastrami Dip with Ka‘u Au Ju

Third Place to Paul Eddy with Roasted Ka‘u Coffee Chicken

Here’s the recipe for the Ka‘u Coffee Cupcakes with Ka‘u Coffee Buttercream Frosting with Coffee and Cayenne Candied Bacon:

Ka‘u Coffee Cupcakes with Ka‘u Coffee Buttercream Frosting Topped with Ka‘u Coffee and Cayenne Rubbed Candied Bacon

Cake:

1-1/2 cups organic flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 cups Ka‘u Coffee Mill Black Honey Coffee Grounds

1/2 cup butter

1 cup organic sugar

3 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup Ka‘u Coffee Mill Black Honey Coffee brewed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift dry ingredients. In a large bowl, blend butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time. Mix buttermilk and coffee in a cup. Add dry ingredients and wet ingredients alternately, do not overmix. Fill 15 cupcake tins and bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Frosting:

1 cup butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

4-1/2 cups powdered sugar

4 tablespoons or more Ka‘u Coffee Mill Honey Coffee

Beat the butter until creamy, add salt. Add 1 cup sugar at a time until gone. Add coffee until it has blended into the right consistency and flavor. Frost cupcakes.

Bacon:

8 slices bacon

6 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoon Ka‘u Coffee Mill Black Honey coffee ground

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

Place the bacon on a rack. Mix other ingredients together until blended. Sprinkle half over your bacon and cook at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until bubbly. Flip over and sprinkle remainder and cook until crispy.

Email Audrey Wilson at audreywilson808@gmail.com.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Wearing traditional garb, dancers from across the Pacific took to the stage at FestPAC 2024 on Monday — the first day of “heritage dance” performances.

And the crowd at the Hawaii Convention Center couldn’t get enough of them.

The performances continue Tuesday, starting at 10 a.m.

Watch FestPAC 2024 performances LIVE daily by clicking here.

Performances also stream live on HNN’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

Thousands of delegates are in Hawaii for the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture.

It’s the first year Hawaii is hosting the major event, which is held every four years.

For a full schedule of FestPAC 2024 and HNN’s latest coverage, click here.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

A combination of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters will wrap up a large-scale simulated combat exercise around Hawaii in the coming days.

Sentry Aloha, which first began more than 20 years ago, is a fighter-focused exercise hosted by the Hawaii Air National Guard. The latest edition began May 29 and will last through June 12. F-22s from the 199th and 19th Fighter Squadrons at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam are flying alongside F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-35 Lightning IIs and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, as well as KC-135 and KC-46 tankers and some C-130s.

The biannual fifth and fourth-gen combat training returned in January this year after a two-year break. Hawaii’s strategic Pacific location makes it an ideal military training ground as Sentry Aloha keeps growing and evolving with each iteration.

And F-22 Raptor, operated by the 199th and 19th Fighting Squadrons, approaches Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, June 3, 2024, Hawaii, during exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2. This iteration of the exercise involves approximately 1,060 participants and 42 aircraft from nine states. Sentry Aloha has been hosted by the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing for more than 20 years to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John Linzmeier)

An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron approaches Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, June 3, 2024, Hawaii. The aircraft relocated to Hawaii to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2, a training event hosted by the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing for more than 20 years. Sentry Aloha is held to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John Linzmeier)

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An F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 177th Fighter Wing approaches Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam June 3, 2024, Hawaii. The 177th Fighter Wing members relocated from Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, New Jersey, to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2. The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing has hosted the exercise for more than 20 years to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John Linzmeier)

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthog assigned to the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center takes off at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, June 4, 2024. A-10 aircraft and personnel relocated from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to Hawaii to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2, the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing has hosted the exercise for more than 20 years to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Anabelle Reed-O’Brien)

An F-35A Lightning II, assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, exits a formation above Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, June 3, 2024, Hawaii. The aircraft relocated to Hawaii to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2, a training event hosted by the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing for more than 20 years. Sentry Aloha is held to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John Linzmeier)

An F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 177th Fighter Wing approaches Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam June 3, 2024, Hawaii. The 177th Fighter Wing members relocated from Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, New Jersey, to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2. The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing has hosted the exercise for more than 20 years to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John Linzmeier)

Senior Airman Marissa Cox, a crew chief assigned to the 119th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, inspects an F-16 Fighting Falcon June 1, 2024, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The 177th Fighter Wing members relocated from Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, New Jersey, to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2. The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing has hosted the exercise for more than 20 years to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (courtesy photo)

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F-35A Lightning IIs, assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, fly in formation above Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, June 3, 2024, Hawaii. The aircraft relocated to Hawaii to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2, a training event hosted by the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing for more than 20 years. Sentry Aloha is held to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John Linzmeier)

This iteration had a total of 42 aircraft from nine states, with 1,060 personnel participating. A spokesperson for the Hawaii Air National Guard’d 154th Wing confirmed the participating aircraft with Air & Space Forces Magazine:

• F-22 and KC-135 from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
• F-16 from the 177th Fighter Wing, Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, N.J.
• F-35 from the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
• F-16 from the 162nd Wing, Tucson Air National Guard Base, Ariz.
• F-16, A-10, KC-135, and HC-130J from the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center, Ariz.
• KC-46 from the 157th Air Refueling Wing, Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H.
• HC-130 from the 129th Rescue Wing, Moffett Air National Guard Base, Calif.
• MQ-9 from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Hawaii.
• C-130H aircraft from the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center and the 189th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.
• KC-135 from the 186th Air Refueling Wing, Key Field Air National Guard Base, Miss.

The spokesperson declined to say the number of each aircraft type, citing operational security.

The fighters and other aircraft are manuevering through Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, with additional operations occurring around Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay and Kona International Airport in Kalaoa, where the aircraft are staged for the training.

“The state offers great airspace and weather to maximize training such as Agile Combat Employment and distributed operations,” Maj. Michael Oliver, the exercise director and a pilot of the 154th Wing, said in a release.

Senior Airman Jean Zambrano, an F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief assigned to the 119th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, reviews technical orders June 1, 2024, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The 177th Fighter Wing members relocated from Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, New Jersey, to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2. The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing has hosted the exercise for more than 20 years to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (courtesy photo)

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Senior Airman Marissa Cox, a crew chief assigned to the 119th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, prepares an F-16 Fighting Falcon for a training sortie June 1, 2024, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The 177th Fighter Wing members relocated from Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, New Jersey, to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2. The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing has hosted the exercise for more than 20 years to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (courtesy photo)

Maintenance professionals from the 157th Air Refueling Wing service a KC-46 Pegasus June 4, 2024, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Tanker aircraft and personnel from Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire, relocated to Oahu to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2. The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing has hosted the exercise for more than 20 years to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Cabuco)

Maintenance professionals from the 157th Air Refueling Wing service a KC-46 Pegasus June 4, 2024, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Tanker aircraft and personnel from Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire, relocated to Oahu to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2. The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing has hosted the exercise for more than 20 years to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Cabuco)

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthog assigned to the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center is inspected before takeoff at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, June 4, 2024. A-10 aircraft and personnel relocated from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to Hawaii to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2, the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing has hosted the exercise for more than 20 years to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Anabelle Reed-O’Brien)

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthog operational test pilot from the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center prepares for takeoff at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, June 4, 2024. A-10 aircraft and personnel relocated from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to Hawaii to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2, the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing has hosted the exercise for more than 20 years to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Anabelle Reed-O’Brien)

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthog operational test pilot from the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center gears up for takeoff at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, June 4, 2024. A-10 aircraft and personnel relocated from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to Hawaii to participate in exercise Sentry Aloha 24-2, the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing has hosted the exercise for more than 20 years to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for total-force Airmen and other Department of Defense services. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Anabelle Reed-O’Brien)

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The 154th Wing is the largest wing in the Air National Guard, hosting Raptors, Stratotankers, and C-17 Globemasters, backed by some 2,500 personnel. In April, the 199th and 19th Fighter Squadrons of the Wing deployed their F-22s to Kadena Air Base in Japan as part of the rotation to maintain a constant fighter presence at the key location.