19th Annual Taste of Hilo Sells Out

The 19th annual A Taste of Hilo took place on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2017, at the Sangha Hall in Hilo. Over 550 tickets were sold for what was tagged as “East Hawaiʻi’s Premier Culinary Event.”

(L-R) Co-Chair Tracy Yamaguchi, Co-Chair Kaʻiu Kumura, JCCIH President Audrey N. Takamine and Co-Chair Randy Kurohara at A Taste of Hilo, 2017.

Got desserts? A Taste of Hilo, 2017.

Oink! A Taste of Hilo, 2017.

Since 1998, the event has showcased a wide variety of savory restaurants from East Hawaiʻi.

This year, co-chair Tracy Yamaguchi said 32 vendors were present.

“Each year, a different local ingredient is featured,” said Chamber President Audrey N. Takamine. “This year they featured Korean farm raised pigs from Kohala.”

Hawaiʻi Community College Chancellor Rachel Solemsaas told Big Island Now that with 19 years of sponsorship with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industy of Hawaiʻi, A Taste of Hilo has contributed over $125,000 in student scholarship awards and professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.

The following is the complete list of 32 vendors that participated in the 2017 Taste of Hilo:

• AJ & Sons Catering
• Akmal’s Indian Kitchen
• Anheuser-Busch Sales of Hawaiʻi
• Any Kine Won Tons
• Cafe 100
  Cafe Pesto Hilo
• Coca Cola Refreshment
• Cupcakes Boom!
• Hawaii Community College Culinary Arts
• Hawaii Island Gourmet Products
  Hawaii Lassi
  Hilo Coffee Mill
• Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Queen’s Court Restaurant
• Hilo Medical Center
• Jamba Juice
• Johnson Brothers
  Kuhio Grille
• Mehana Brewing Company
• Ocean Sushi
• Paradise Beverages
• Pepsi-Cola Co. of Hilo
• Pint Size Hawaiʻi
• Remy’s Plate Lunch
• Sodexo (UHH Campus)
• Suisan Fish Market
• Sweet Cane Cafe
• Sweet Thunder Products: The Local Fushion Sushi
• The Cherry Company
• Volcano Winery
• WikiFresh Restaurant and Wiki Wagon
• Young’s Market of Hawaiʻi
• Yan’s Kitchen