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Eco-friendly event to include Learning Center recipes


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POSTED: Wednesday, April 22, 2009

The second annual Grow Hawaiian Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday on the Great Lawn at Bishop Museum. This eco-friendly event, in recognition of Earth Day, is free for kamaaina and military.

“;Earth Day reminds everyone to think about taking care of the environment. ... By presenting the (festival), we hope to encourage people to explore what they can do to ... contribute to a sustainable energy future,”; said Ka'iulani de Silva, Hawaiian Electric Co.'s director of education and consumer affairs.

The festival focuses on conservation, sustainability, culture and native plants. Booths and hands-on demonstrations will highlight kapa and lei making, traditional weaving, Hawaiian implements and stone work. Entertainment includes Hula halau Na Pualei o Likolehua, Ka Waihona o ka Na'auao Public Charter School, Kaukahi, Holunape and Weldon Kekauoha.

Hui Ku Maoli Ola will sell native Hawaiian plants; plus, there will activities for keiki, Hawaiian food and more. Visit www.heco.com or www.bishopmuseum.org.

One of the food booths this year will be from Hakipu'u Learning Center, which teaches ai pono, a Hawaiian nutrition class. Students learn to cook cultural food such as kalo (taro), uala (sweet potato), ulu (breadfruit), i'a (fish), limu (seaweed) and mai'a (banana). For 21 days the students eat three healthy meals daily, cook, shop, exercise and keep a journal. The program emphasizes not weight loss, but identifying what it's like to be kanaka maoli.

The center shared the recipes that follow.

I'a (Fish) Laulau

10 uala (sweet potato) leaves
3 ounces boneless i'a (fish)
Inamona (ground, roasted kukui nuts) and pa'akai (salt) to taste
Ti leaves for wrapping

Peel stems off uala leaves and lay flat. Season i'a with inamona and pa'akai; place i'a in center of leaves and wrap, then wrap uala with it leaves. Steam about 30 minutes. Serves 1.

Approximate nutritional analysis, per serving (not including Inamona and pa'akai): 130 calories, 1 g total fat, no saturated fat, 60 mg cholesterol, 90 mg sodium, 10 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, no sugar 22 g protein

Ahi Poke Salad

2 cups baby greens salad mix
2 cups iceberg lettuce mix
1 ounce ocean salad
1/4 pound ahi poke
Sesame seed dressing to taste

Place baby greens, iceberg lettuce, ocean salad and poke into small bowl. Toss with dressing just before serving. Serves 1.

Approximate nutritional analysis, per serving (assumes 2 tablespoons dressing): 280 calories, 18 g total fat, 2.5 g saturated fat, 25 mg cholesterol, greater than 700 mg sodium, 16 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 7 g sugar, 18 g protein

Kalo and Uala in Coconut Milk

4 cups cooked kalo (taro), cubed
4 cups cooked uala (sweet potato), cubed
2 cups coconut milk
1/3 cup sugar

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Cover and bring to a boil; lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve warm. Serves 6.

Approximate nutritional analysis, per serving: 350 calories, 17 g total fat, 15 g saturated fat, no cholesterol, 65 mg sodium, 50 g carbohydrate, 7 g fiber, 16 g sugar, 4 g protein

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For more local-style recipes from Hawaiian Electric Co.'s database, visit www.heco.com.