I haven't posted in this blog in a long time...too much has happened...and now it's time to say a hui hou to Hawaii and my ohana of friends.
When I first came to the island at the invitation of my son 26 years ago, the plan was to open a kitchen shop and cooking school, similar to what I had in the mainland...but plans changed and we ended up opening a B&B with deli, gift shop, and cooking school in our village of Honomu.
The Akaka Falls Inn was a destination place for foodies traveling from the mainland who wanted to learn more about the food of Hawaii...Several years after opening the Inn, I started writing food articles for The Hamakua Times, a monthly newspaper published in Honoka'a. The column was titled Tropical Taste and I contributed to that periodical for 17 years.
After a fire devastated the Inn and our home, I self-published a small cookbook by collecting several years worth of the Tropical Taste columns...
also, during this time, I was contributing articles to the Hawaii Fishing News under the title of The aFishionado...
I was a free-lance food writer for the Hawaii Tribune Herald of Hilo for 4 years...and contributed articles to Edibles Hawaiian Islands...and for several years, my son and I wrote restaurant reviews for the Hawaii Island Journal, under the title of Table for Two. Several years later, I was a contributor to Ke Ola Magazine, writing about the abundant tropical fruits and produce available in our many farmers markets.
During all these years, I had a lot of fun organizing and judging cooking contests around the island...It all started with the Hamakua Alive! festivals in Pa'auilo...and then continued with various others, such as the Liliko'i Festival, the 'Ulu Festival...the Honey Challenge, The Hamakua Harvest and the Mango and Avocado Festivals...several of these were yearly events.
Several years after the publication of my modest first cookbook, it was included in the Best of the Best of Hawaii Cookbooks with 7 of my recipes shared in the volume, so a second printing was done.
Years later another cookbook was published...this one titled From Soup to Nuts and it features most of my favorite recipes, plus many hints and tips, as well as a manual on how best get use of your freezer.
My third cookbook is a collection of 5 years worth of articles contributed to Ke Ola Magazine and it is titled Sonia Tastes Hawaii.
I have retired from writing for media, but am still playing with putting together cookbooks...My next one is all about tomatoes, if I can ever finish it!
I will be leaving this island on the 28th, this coming Wednesday... ... This island has been my home for the last 26 years, two months, and two weeks, by the time I leave...
I have experienced much joy and deep sadness in this place...and it will always hold a cherished place in my heart.
A hui hou, Hawaii...mahalo for taking us in and making a home for us...