“;It Never Hurts to Ask”; is the motto of this column, as it is a repository for cooking mysteries most elusive. I employ said motto a few times a year, when confronted by a backlog of requests for recipes from restaurants long gone.

The usual routine: I'll print a list, under the heading of “;Hope Springs Eternal”; (the secondary motto of this column), and sometimes a helpful reader will come up with a solution. My percentage of success is somewhere below 45 percent, but, hey, something is better than nothing (which is, by the way, my tertiary motto).

Today, a success.

“;I was wondering if you could get the recipe for Hanamizuki Yakinique's Haupia Sundae,”; wrote Elizabeth Jackson. “;It was a fresh tropical fruit cocktail (I think mango, papaya, pineapple and kiwi) served in a margarita glass, topped with usually vanilla or green tea ice cream, and slathered with warm haupia pudding. It was garnished with some toasted coconut flakes.”;

The Hanamizuki site is now the home of Chef Mavro, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. This goes to show how long Jackson has gone without this dessert.

Well, her request was printed here on New Year's Eve, and Valerie F. Ahina came through with a recipe for the haupia sauce, given to her by a co-worker, Lois McCabe.

We can't vouch for its authenticity, but Ahina has tried it, and pronounces it “;very ono over ice cream.”; So if it's not exactly right, it is worth the calories.

Hanamizuki's Haupia Sauce

1 12.5-ounce can coconut milk
8 ounces (1 cup) coconut syrup
2 tablespoons pina colada syrup
2 tablespoons coconut extract
Cornstarch, as needed

Heat coconut milk, syrup, pina colada mix and extract in a saucepan over medium heat. Gradually add cornstarch, starting with 1 tablespoon, and stir until thickened to a consistency you like. Makes about 2-1/2 cups.

To serve: Place sliced fruit of your choice in a cup. Top with vanilla or green tea ice cream. Pour warm topping over all. Top with toasted coconut flakes or chopped macadamia nuts.

Nutritional information unavailable.

Hope springs eternal

OK, who has these recipes? Get in touch. A free cookbook goes to anyone with a tested recipe to share.

» Joline Lavilla is looking for a Papaya Cobbler recipe that her mother cut out of a newspaper in the '80s. “;I know that the recipe included ingredients such as cream cheese and cooking oats.”;

» Janet Y. Ung wants to make coconut candy — the type you can buy in crack-seed stores. It's ball-shaped and covered in coconut flakes dyed red.

» Speaking again of Hanamizuki, Shirley Okamoto is looking for the recipe for the restaurant's yakiniku sauce.

» And from one of the old Chunky's drive-ins, how about the teriyaki sauce, crab sushi roll or the mustard-mayo “;yellow”; sauce served on hamburgers?

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Write “;By Request,”; Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu 96813. Send e-mail to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).