" A Taste of Dakine..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen

A "Taste" is The sensation caused in the tongue by things placed on it, Synonyms for Taste are Flavor, savour,love, fondness,and this year's 24TH annual "Taste of Hawai'i" this past Sunday June 3, 2012 had it all.

The Taste of Hawai'i is Kauai's signature annual event taking place each year on the first Sunday in June. Many visitors plan their sojourns around this event. Hotels run specials to coincide with this event and the locals love it for the music, food, reuniting for fellowship with friends to talk story and experience the true Aloha spirit that goes along with each Taste of Hawaii.

The Taste is billed as the ultimate Sunday brunch with over 50 chefs strutting their signature dishes, 15 plus beer, wine and soft drink beverage vendors, Ten plus musical bands, from rock' roll to Big band, a silent auction and a Lappert's ice cream station all on one of the most beautiful properties on the island of Kauai, Smiths tropical paradise. I prefer to call it the ultimate Kaua'i experience, call it Thanksgiving in June, call it a culinary delight, call it a beer garden, I like to call it dakine. I actually like to call everything I can't put a word to, "dakine..."

Kaua'i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr and first lady Regina "Gina" Carvalho were amongst the  over 1,000 guests. The mayor and his beautiful wife were seen dancing the afternoon away to the sounds of many bands including the outrageously awesome Kauai Band, "Quake" led by lead singer James Norman.

The Taste always seems to fall on a bright sunny day and one of the most delectable dishes for this hot day was the refreshing and mouth-watering "Kauai shrimp and ono Ceviche, Watermelon Gazpacho, petite herb salad." created by Chef Garrison Price of the Kauai grill at the St. Regis Resort in Princeville. One other outstanding dish was Ashton beach resorts own Chef Greg Stoll's delectable and Ono "Poisson Cru," it was a culinary work of art,a raw fish salad served in a sculpted cucumber with a wasabi ,soy sauce that makes this dish orgasmic.

Taste of Hawaii is made up of hundreds of volunteers from the community, vendors pay good money to get exposure and give their food away. Tickets cost one hundred dollars each. Nobody can really eat one hundred dollars worth of food, one must look at it like your donating a hundred dollars to charity and the event is free.

Taste of Hawaii is not about "self" and how much you can eat and drink,it's deeper "Taste" is a community event, all profits go towards scholarships for our local youth and fund international projects such as providing safe drinking water and sanitation in schools for people in poverty stricken areas. "Taste" is not only a taste of food but a taste of community, a taste charity , a taste of something besides self, "Taste" is about true Aloha.

Mahalo Nui Loa to the Rotarian's for the 24TH consecutive year of giving back to the community. Rumor has it next year for the silver anniversary the event will be bigger and better if that's even possible. Until next year, A Hui Hou Kakou Malama Pono.(Take care, until we all meet again...)

Photo  Top left,
Chef Greg Stoll of the Ashton Beach resort with his culinary delightful raw seafood salad "Poisson Cru."

Top right, Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. high fives  Quakes lead singer James Norman

Bottom left Nathan displays Kauai shrimp and ono Ceviche, Watermelon Gazpacho, petite herb salad." created by Garrison Price of the Kauai grill at the St. Regis Resort in Princeville.

Below, an employee of the Feral pig brings on the most delicious Cheeseburger slider ever... All photos copyright James "Kimo" Rosen

..Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher