The 14th annual Hilo Huli brings together the best food and beverages from 16 chefs, six beverage companies and three dessert and snack companies, plus first-rate entertainment.
The popular event, a major fundraiser for the Rotary Club of South Hilo, is from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday at Moku Ola (Coconut Island).
Food vendors include AJ &Sons Catering, Akmal Indian Kitchen/Hawaii Lassi, Angry Bull, Any Kine Wontons, Hilo Burger Joint, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel’s Queen’s Court Restaurant, Hilo Medical Center’s Ohana Cafe, Le Magic Pan, Park Cafe and Delicatessen, Poke Market, Seaside Restaurant, Sombat’s Fresh Thai Cuisine, Sweet Thunder Products, WikiFresh, Hudie’s Hawaiian Food and La Casa Azul.
Beverages will be provided by Coca-Cola Bottling of Hawaii, Pepsi Beverages, Mehana Brewing/Hawaii Nui Brewing, Anheuser-Busch/Kona Brewing, Volcano Winery and Young’s Market.
Snacks and desserts are from Hilo Bake Company, Atebara Chips and Higa’s Gourmet Specialties.
The new Hilo Huli entrants, La Casa Azul, a Mexican food truck, will make chimichangas; Hudie’s Hawaiian Food will have its poke boat and kalua nachos; Hilo Burger Joint will feature freshly cooked Big Island grass-fed beef sliders with lilikoi butter, goat cheese and arugula; while Park Cafe and Delicatessen will serve house-cured and freshly smoked beef brisket on a crostini with Gorgonzola crema and house-brined pickles.
“It’s always fun to give back to your community, especially when it means hanging out at Coconut Island, listening to great music and making people happy with our yummy food,” said Rhonda Nichols, owner of Hilo Burger Joint and Park Cafe and Delicatessen.
Audrey Wilson, the Tribune-Herald’s food columnist and Hilo Huli’s vendor chairwoman since its inception, said this year’s Hilo Huli has “a great balance of food vendors this year from our favorite regulars to Mexican street food, a taste of Hawaiian food, a good ol’ burger and a manapua with a twist.”
Chef Brian Agbayani of Hilo Medical Center is back and hopes to win the coveted People’s Choice award.
Hilo Huli Chairman Pat Aiona Jr. didn’t have to look far for entertainment, tapping 10-time Na Hoku Hanohano award winner Mark Yamanaka, whose day job is hooking local folks up with rides at Aiona Car Sales.
“It’s a unique fundraiser and a large portion of the proceeds goes to benefit local community projects,” Aiona said. “We’ve got a bunch of great local vendors for food and beverages and you’ve got music by a great local musician, Mark Yamanaka. It’s a great time.”
There is free parking at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium and shuttles running to and from the event.
Admission is $55 advance, $65 gate, with $30 tax deductible. Advance tickets are available online at www.hilohuli.org, Aiona Car Sales or The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.