Taste of the Garden Island: Chef Linda Yamada of Beach House Restaurant presents a cooking demonstration/sampling, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Kapiolani Community College 'Ohi'a 118; $27.50. Call 734-9211. Dekker, a sous chef at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, won $4,000, a trip for two to Canada and a King Kooker barbecue as the winner in three divisions - overall, professional and Izuo Brothers - Sunday at the Big Island's Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel.
"I'd like to get some exposure," Dekker said, "not to mention the fact I make a pretty good poke."
Double winners included Trini Castillo, first place amateur and ogo category winner; Karl Tsukasaki, second place amateur and Oils of Aloha category winner; and Faye Kuheana, fourth place amateur and Auntie Soon's Hot Stuff category winner.
Other titlists were Ted Farm, Sam Choy's choice winner; Phyllis Andrade, Mayor's choice winner; and Sam Kapu, celebrity category winner.
Kapu created a "Poke Pine," a pineapple with protruding toothpicks which held poke chunks. Gloriann Akau, Hawaii Island manager for Aloha Festivals, called Kapu's entry a hilarious show stopper.
"It was cute. He was so precious," said Akau, who estimated the crowd at 700. "His creativity really brought the house down."
Dekker's championship recipe follows.
2 pounds shelled Waipi'o prawns, cut in chunksCombine ingredients and chill.
3 firm Waimea yellow tomatoes, diced
2 Maui onions, diced small
Fresh juice of 10 limes
1/2 cup sweet chile sauce
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh ginger
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons sesame oil
Approximate nutritional analysis per 1/2-cup serving: 50 calories, 1.5 grams total fat, 0.5 gram saturated fat, 50 milligrams cholesterol, 80 milligrams sodium.*
Taste of the Garden Island: Chef Linda Yamada of Beach House Restaurant presents a cooking demonstration/sampling, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Kapiolani Community College 'Ohi'a 118; $27.50. Call 734-9211.
Herbal holiday gifts: Flo Stanley teaches a class, 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Lyon Arboretum; $22.50. Call 988-7378.
Hispanic heritage: Nachos and soft tacos by Compadres Mexican Bar & Grill are among food highlights at Saturday's fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Kapiolani Park. Also, during Hispanic Heritage Month through Tuesday, get a free "Healthy Eating Latin Style" recipe booklet by writing to: Royal Palm Press, P.O. Box 833, Hartsdale, N.Y. 10530-0833.
Dim summery: Indigo Restaurant chef Glenn Chu prepares his specialties at a cooking demonstration/sampling, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, JMD Educational Center in Halawa; $38. Call 956-8400.
Ohana cooking: Author Arleen Yoshimura hosts a book signing/food sampling for her "Mrs. Yoshimura's Ohana Cookbook," 4 p.m. Saturday, Borders Waikele. Call 676-6699.
Kona coffee recipe contest: Entry deadline is Tuesday for the Kona Coffee Amateur Recipe Contest, open to cooks 7 years old and up on Nov. 2 at Konawaena High School gym. Call Carol Ikeda at 322-2718 on the Big Island for entry forms.
Also, the professional division is 4 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Royal Kona Resort (former Kona Hilton) with competition in appetizer, entree and dessert categories. Prize is a weekend for two at Lanai's Manele Bay Hotel. Call Casey Nonaka at 885-2000, Ext. 7112.