“Cooking Hawaiian Style,” a locally produced television show, set up its outdoor kitchen at Kula Country Farms and Kaonoulu Ranch on the Valley Isle this week.
The backdrop chosen by show director/partner Ruben Carrillo was one of Maui’s most picturesque—and most vulnerable—features: crop and ranch lands. Vast working, green space stretches from upper Kula past the Kula Ag Park in Pūlehu and Ōmaʻopio down to the central valley, which was once filled with sugarcane and is now being planted with a range of agricultural crops by Mahi Pono. Framing the shot is the southern coastline to the left and the West Maui Mountains.
As the title sponsor of the upcoming season, Maui County Farm Bureau hopes this sweeping agricultural backdrop will resonate with viewers, especially Hawaiʻi residents. “We appreciate this opportunity to showcase Grown on Maui products,” said Warren K. Watanabe, executive director of MCFB, “and to remind viewers that preserving our crop and ranch lands is an essential part of island stewardship. A viable ag industry means not only access to local, fresh and flavorful produce, proteins and value-added agricultural products, but also continued working, green space rather than development.”
“Cooking Hawaiian Style” Season 15 will include several farmers and Friends of Ag who will make dishes featuring local ingredients. Some of them include Big Wave Surfer Ian Walsh who made his famous smash burger which he sources ground beef from Maui Cattle Company.
With an audience of national and international viewers, the show shines the light on the island’s hotels and restaurants that buy local and support farmers, ranchers, flower growers, nurseries, and ag entrepreneurs—many of them MCFB partners.
“The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of supporting our local farmers and ranchers and their value to the community,” Watanabe said. “We’re excited to spotlight several agricultural sectors in this show, and we hope it emphasizes the need to sustain a viable and resilient agricultural industry.
The show also provides an interesting look at Hawai‘i’s local culture through food. Host Lanai Tabura and his guests “talk story” and give recommendations throughout the show about favorite foods and favorite places to eat while growing up and today.
The stars of the show are definitely Maui’s Grown on Maui produce and proteins including Maui Cattle Co’s ground beef and top sirloin, Maui Kula Onions, cacao from Ku’ia Farms in Lahaina, MauiGrown/Kāʻanapali Estate Coffee, Yee’s mangoes, a wide range of vegetables, Kula Country Farms strawberries and the soon-to-be new big crop for Kula Country Farms – blueberries.
Mahalo to the County of Maui and the Office of Economic Development for their support and partnership with this project.
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