Kona Hawaiʻi Island Police Activities League inaugural Keiki Poke Contest a tasty success

Hawaiʻi Police Department Kona Community Policing Section hosted a tasty success during its inaugural Hawaiʻi Island Police Activities League Keiki Poke Contest.

Talented young chefs, their families and community members came together June 20 at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Resort in Kailua-Kona for a day celebrating creativity, culture and Hawaiʻi’s rich culinary traditions.

Fifteen West Hawaiʻi keiki participated in three age divisions:

• Ages 5 to 8 years old.
• Ages 9 to 12 years old.
• Ages 13 to 17 years old.

Five contestants competed in each division, preparing their own unique poke recipes. They were judged on creativity, presentation, taste and the use of local ingredients.

“This event was about much more than a cooking competition,” said Kona Community Policing Section Officer Tyler Meno in a release about the contest. “It gave our keiki an opportunity to learn about the cultural significance of poke, express their creativity and build confidence in a fun and supportive environment. Seeing the pride on their faces and the support from their families made this event a tremendous success.”

Hawaiʻi Police Department thanks King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Resort, Kona Village, Bryan Fujikawa of KGH Catering, Betty Kanuha Foundation and KBXtreme for their generous support in making this inaugural event possible.

Their partnership helped provide a memorable experience that celebrated Hawaiʻi’s culinary traditions while encouraging the next generation of young chefs.

The department also thanks the contestants, their ʻohana, volunteers and community members, whose enthusiasm and support made the first HI-PAL Keiki Poke Contest a tremendous success.