The Second Annual Mango Festival

Someone wisely said "Life is uncertain, eat dessert first" and I guess I must believe it since I wrote about Hector's Heavenly Rose Mango Cake presentation at the recent mango fest in Kona instead of writing about the festival itself first.

Hawaiian Mangos poster by Ken Love - Hawaii Tropical Fruit

By all appearances, The Second Annual Hawaii Healing Gardens Mango Festival held this past Saturday, July 31st at the Keauhou Outrigger Beach Resort in Kona was a smashing success!

 
There was mango everything....from the fresh fruit, to mango gazpacho (delicious), mango upside-down cake, mango smoothies, mango talks, mango posters, mango products, Hector's previously mentioned mango cake and even honey bees making mango honey.

 

I had first attended another event in Kona on Friday afternoon, so I spent the night at the hotel to be there for the mango fest on Saturday.  My room had a beautiful view of both the ocean and the mango fest location. Photos above were taken from my 5th floor room balcony. 

There was hula, educational talks on how to make preserves, beekeeping, how to graft a mango tree, how to treat your trees so they would bear luscious, healthy fruit, food demonstrations and so much more!

Ken Love, Mark Suiso and Stuart Johnson spoke about growing mangoes and how to keep your backyard mango trees healthy.  Most of the audience for this talk stayed on for Hector's mango cake presentation.... which you've already read about.

The whole event was a kaleidoscope of images, colors, music and aromas coming at you from all sides!

Kudos to Randyl Rupar and everyone else involved in making this festival a huge success....see you next year Randyl!

Photo - Sonia spotted looking at Ken's mango poster at the Mango Festival by Craig Elevitch

Comments

[Sonia]

Hi, Portia....Thanks! The cheese making classes are so much fun... I can't believe how wonderful the cheese product is compared to store bought!

Yes, Hector's cake was so stupendous that everything else was relegated to the back burner... ;-)

[Portia Little]

I felt like I was right there with you, Sonia. And of course I can't blame you for reporting first on that marvelous cake!

[Sonia]

Mahalo, Randyl....It was a wonderful event and the weather was glorious!
I'm sorry I've missed the avocado festival in past years, (Ken has already chastised me) but will definitely make plans to be there next February!
Me ke aloha pumehana

[Randyl Rupar]

Aloha Sonia,

So good to have your presence at our Mango Festival.
The quality of Mango inspired cuisine was fabulous.
Mahalo nui loa for all your kokua and support.
Our team is so pleased to have had the opportunity to co-create such an educational, cultural and yummy event. More to come.
Get ready for more deliciousness as our 5th. annual Hawai`i Avocado Festival on February 19, 2011 at the Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens will be featuring our extremely popular Hawai`i Avocado Recipe competition and tasting.
Please stay in touch.
A hui hou.

In Peace,
Randyl Rupar
www.manakeasanctuary.org