CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Shirley Filoteo, left, a kitchen supervisor, and Natalie Higa prepare sweet potato lavosh at the Rainbow Falls Connection in Hilo.

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The popular island product
is created by people who
used to be on welfare

In the kitchens of Rainbow Falls Connection, employees are working on themselves as much as the product line. Their motto is "Purchase with a Purpose," which is what the Hilo-based group would like you to keep in mind should you come across its booth at this weekend's Made in Hawaii Festival.

Made in Hawaii Festival Place: Blaisdell Center Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Admission: $2; children under 6 free. Half-off coupons available at First Hawaiian Bank branches. Call: 533-1292 or visit the Web site, www.madeinhawaiifestival.com Additional parking: City Municipal Parking Lot, Alapai and Beretania streets Friday and Saturday; free. Shuttle to Blaisdell, $2 round trip. Cooking Demonstrations Friday 2 p.m.: Mark Ellman, Maui Tacos and Penne Pasta Cafe 4 p.m.: Almar Arcano, Hy's Steak House 6 p.m.: Andy Nelson, Neptune's Garden Saturday Noon: Derek Kurisu, KTA Super Stores 2 p.m.: Taping of "Hawaii's Kitchen" with Elmer Guzman, Poke Stop 4 p.m.: Keoni Chang, Foodland 6 p.m.: Grant Sato, Kapiolani Community College Sunday Noon: Bill Bruhl, BluWater Grill 2 p.m.: Grant Sato, Kapiolani Community College

"This company helped me so much," says 42-year-old Shirley Filoteo, a kitchen supervisor. "I never thought I would ever be a supervisor someplace."

Filoteo, a four-year veteran at Rainbow Falls, credits the program with turning her life around. Before coming to Rainbow Falls, Filoteo was on welfare and had never held a job.

All of Rainbow Falls' employees have been on government assistance at some time. "I've had people on welfare for 15 years," says executive director George Yokoyama of the Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council, which oversees the operation.

In 2001, with welfare laws capping recipients at five years worth of benefits, the private, non-profit economic council saw the need to develop opportunities where welfare recipients could develop skills and hone work habits. This became the genesis of Rainbow Falls Connection.

Kitchens in Honokaa, Paauilo, Hakalau and Hilo served as both learning centers and support havens. They produce 15 varieties of Hawaiian tropical lavosh, snowball cookies, honey and fruit butters.

Yokoyama believes that teaching people particular job skills with an emphasis on building self-confidence leads them to work hard for themselves.

"They're here to help us out and make us feel good about ourselves. That's why I love my job," Filoteo says.

Filoteo is in charge of the Hilo kitchen, with the responsibility for putting out 15 varieties of lavosh -- the brand's best-selling product.

Two hundred cases -- each containing a dozen 4-ounce packages -- are produced every week. Sales have been so good that inquiries have been received from stores in California and Las Vegas.

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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM A sampling of Rainbow Falls Connection's creations.

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The lavosh recipe was developed by Vinel Sugino, supervisor of the Hakalau kitchen, who initially experimented with sweet potato, ulu (breadfruit), ginger jelly and coconut-butter flavors. Other flavors now produced include mango butter, passion-fruit butter, taro, cinnamon, macadamia nut, furikake, garlic, and guava butter. There is even lavosh dipped in white or dark chocolate.

New products being developed include a no-sugar, honey-sweetened lavosh.

All funds raised from the sale of Rainbow Falls' products go back into the program, Yokoyama said.

Filoteo has high hopes for her future. "My credit is good now, I bought my own car and I'm working on buying a house," she says. "It's still hard, but I'm taking it one step at a time."

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