Hawaii Foodbank's Great Chefs Fight Hunger Returns

The Hawaii Foodbank doesn’t just rely on canned-food drives.

How do you feed the poor? If you’re the Hawaii Foodbank, you get big-name chefs to make high-end food in the hopes of raising $100,000 to continue operations.

Lori Kaya, Hawaii Foodbank’s grants and communications, says the Hawaii Foodbank needs the funds to help collect, inspect and distribute the nearly 13 million pounds of food needed each year by Oahu’s impoverished—that’s 183,500 people, by its numbers.

If the irony of hosting a high-end dinner to raise money to feed the poor isn’t lost on you, Chef D.K. Kodama, one of the participants in this year’s Great Chefs Fight Hunger, says, “We have been very fortunate in having a successful business, and this is a small way we can give to less-fortunate people. Because we are in the food business, it only makes sense to use what we know for this cause.”

The rest of of the chef lineup comes from kitchens such as Morimoto Waikiki, Roy’s Ko Olina, and The Pacific Club, and also includes Kodama of d.k Steak House, Chai Chaowasaree of Chef Chai and Quinten Frye of Cocina, who will prepare tapas-style entrees and desserts.

Kodama says he will make Vintage Natural NY Striploin w/Small Kine Farms mushroom ragout, a demi jus topped with Ho Farms cherry tomato and shiso telish and sous vide leg of lamb with curried quinoa eggplant; nalo tatsoi and port wine demi are the two dishes from Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar and dk Steak House.

The Cellar Door—a large collection of fine wines provided by distributors such as Young’s Market and Southern Wines and Spirits—also returns, along with volunteers who will sell keys that might or might not open it. (You can also bid on items in a silent auction).

With VIP passes selling for $200, general admission tickets at $150, and Hibiscus VIP tables for 10 at $2,500, this fundraiser has a good shot at meeting its goal.

Hawaii Foodbank Warehouse, 2611 Kilihau St., Mapunapuna, Saturday, March 15, 6 to 8:30 p.m. (VIPs get early access at 5 p.m.), hawaiifoodbank.org.