Sharing the Goodness

Molokai offers up its best at Food and Business Expo.

By Catherine Cluett

The Molokai Chamber of Commerce cooked up its sixth successful festive and informative Annual Food and Business Expo last Saturday. With Molokai entertainment by Lono, Moana’s Hula Halau, and Six Pack, coupled with demos by Maui Nui’s best chefs, expo-goers left the affair pleasantly plump and laden with treats.

The Expo highlighted local products and services, helping to inform residents of what’s available within the immediate community. Charleen Tinao’s child safety vest invention and business, Safe-T-Tot, is one example. “If my product saves a child’s life, I will consider my business successful,” says Tinao. She credits Kuha`o Business Center with getting her enterprise on its feet. The Business Center offers confidential business counseling, business plan development, online access to business resources, and other customized services to Molokai residents.

Not only did Expo-goers get to taste ono food, they also learned how to make it themselves with tips and hand-on tutorials from top chefs. Chef Dean Louie of Maui Culinary Academy along with assistants Liane Mendija-Neizman of Maui and Charrene Bishaw, a senior at Molokai High School, taught an eager audience how to make Banana Fosters, among other easy and ono dishes.

The Expo was made possible with help from the County of Maui Office of Economic Development, Bank of Hawaii, American Savings Bank, Young Brothers, Dorvin D. Leis, and Maui Paving.