‘Aina Pono Pop-Up Café
School Food Services Branch (SFSB) created the ‘Aina Pono Pop-Up Café so Hawaii public school students can experience the ‘Aina Pono: Farm to School program on their own campus.
Through the Hawaii State Department of Education’s ‘Aina Pono: Farm to School program, Hawaii public school students are introduced to locally grown produce and ingredients that are incorporated into their school meals.
The ‘Aina Pono Pop-Up Café operates like a pop-up restaurant that features a special “one-day only” entrée or side dish. These educational opportunities are made possible thanks to the farmers, ranchers, community partners and government leaders that continue to support SFSB’s Farm to School efforts. A big mahalo to the schools – including the complex area superintendents, principals, cafeteria managers and their staff, custodians, teachers and administrators – for their hard work and going above and beyond for their students so they can participate in these ‘Aina Pono programs.
Photos courtesy of School Food Services Branch
Kauai Shrimp Makes Its Farm-to-School Debut on Kauai, Oahu and Maui
The ‘Aina Pono Pop-Up Café special featuring Kauai Shrimp has been served to hundreds of Hawaii public school students at Waimea High School on Kauai (Nov. 6, 2019), Mililani High School on Oahu (Dec. 13, 2019), and Lahaina Intermediate School on Maui (Feb. 28, 2020).
Each school developed its own recipes and selected creative ways to prepare this local favorite seafood.
On the Garden Island, education and government leaders, including Hawaii’s First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige and State Senator Ron Kouchi, prepared Kauai Shrimp alongside students from Waimea High School’s Culinary Academy. The Kauai-raised shrimp was featured in soft tacos and served with a side of fresh watermelon.
At Mililani High School, students requested garlic shrimp for lunch, similar to what is served at Oahu’s famous North Shore shrimp trucks. Instead of rice, the garlic shrimp was topped on a bed of whole wheat pasta.
Earlier this year over on Maui, Lahaina Intermediate School opted for garlic shrimp pasta too, but added mushrooms, spinach, green onions and tomatoes.
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Shrimp Tacos at Waimea High School (Kauai)
Garlic Shrimp Pasta at Mililani High School (Oahu)
Garlic Shrimp Pasta at Lahaina Intermediate School (Maui)
Righteous Meal
The following article appeared in The Garden Island on Nov. 7, 2019.
As Kallen Wachi monitored the movement of VIPs at Waimea High School Wednesday morning, he noticed the crowd of students around them.
“Normally, we get about a fourth of this, but when the students found out we were having shrimp, everybody came for lunch,” he said.
Wachi was recording the tour that included Hawaii first lady Dawn Ige and a contingent of officials celebrating the launch of the ‘Aina Pono Program (Farm to School) for 2020.
While education and government leaders prepared Kauai Shrimp alongside students from the Waimea High School culinary academy, the remainder toured the campus, paying special attention to the garden program and the creative-media studios.
Hanalei and Kilauea El Students Are Served Fresh Kauai Pineapples
The following Instagram post by Malama Kauai appeared on Aug. 23, 2019, when fresh Kauai pineapples from Kilauea Community Agriculture Center were served to the students at Hanalei and Kilauea elementary schools. Mahalo to ʻAina Ho‘okupu O Kīlauea for making this happen!
Students Feast on Watermelons From Beck’s Hybrids
The following article appeared in The Garden Island on Aug. 14, 2019.
Monday’s high temperature and humidity made it a good day for watermelon.
It was also a day when Kapaa Middle School student Remy Daigle called in sick.
That meant Daigle missed the opportunity to see the load of 500 pounds of Kauai-grown watermelon by Beck’s Hybrids being delivered to Kapaa Middle School, where a portion of the load was cut and sampled by school officials and some students.
“This is really good,” said Sarah Morioka, a student. “We’re having this again tomorrow?”
Photos courtesy of School Food Services Branch
Kapaa Middle School Samples Fresh Watermelon
On Aug. 12, 2019, Kapaa Middle School students sampled fresh watermelon from Beck’s Hybrids as part of the ‘Aina Pono Pop-Up Café. The watermelons were locally grown on Kauai and prepared in Kapaa Middle School’s cafeteria for lunch. The students were beyond thrilled and enjoyed this sweet treat.
“We’re looking to add more schools to our ‘Aina Pono: Farm to School program, but it takes a lot of planning and training to convert a school to be 100 percent Farm to School,” said Albert Scales, program administrator of School Food Services Branch. “Through our new ‘Aina Pono Pop-Up Café, schools can incorporate a locally grown produce or ingredient into their meals on a specified day, allowing students to sample what is available in their own community.”
The pop-up concept also introduces students to new foods that they might not have eaten at home, and teaches them the importance of buying local.
“Instead of relying on imported foods, students begin to see how we can become sustainable by harvesting and eating fresh foods that we have in our community, while working with our local companies and boosting Hawaii’s economy,” added Scales.
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