B on Hawaii

The islands are teeming with upscale culinary events this month—and here’s one you won’t want to miss. The finale event in the “Mangoes at the Moana” series is this Friday’s “Tree to Table: A Mango Throw Down” to take place at the Westin Moana Surfrider. (For malihini/visitors who couldn’t already smell it in the air, its mango harvest season in Hawaii.)

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Part of the “magic” of living in (or visiting) Hawaii is the multi-cultural fabric that weaves through each of our communities. On September 25, the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii will honor five members of this community as both significant contributors to Hawaii as well as Japanese icons. The theme is “Kakushin No Tatsujin!

It’s that time of year again: The 11th annual Taste of Kapolei is an outdoor food and wine frenzy on Oahu’s leeward coast that features the cuisine of dozens of island chefs. With live entertainment under the stars and tastings of wine not typically attainable through public channels, the “Taste” commences on Saturday, September 18, 2010, at 5:30 p.m.

If you need an excuse to get out and eat on Maui, then here it is: Restaurant Week is back at Wailea, and the deals abound between Sunday, May 23 and Saturday, May 29, 2010. In addition, a portion of every prix-fixe menu at the sixteen participating restaurants will go towards feeding the hungry at Maui Food Bank.

Maui lovers rejoice! Perhaps one of the best "steals" out there in the accommodations scene is the newly announced kama`aina rates (for local residents) at the Kapalua Villas. Now managed by Outrigger Resorts, the Villas are currently being offered at $159 per night.

Mother's Day is approaching on Sunday, May 9, and Halekulani executive chef Vikram Garg wants you to help mom ring in her awesomeness with a four-course, not-to-be-missed lunch at the hotel's award-winning La Mer. If your salivary glands don't perk up after reading the following menu, then please move on to reading another magazine, entirely.

It is one thing for a celebrated chef to participate in community events; yet it's quite another for him to draw attention to educating our children (at a time when The State doesn't care to) while spotlighting the sustainable farm system.

New Menu Items a Homerun at Mama's Fish House

Once in a great while someone will email us asking why we cover the same restaurant twice before choosing to write about others. Well, when you talk about a high-caliber dining experience like that of Mama's Fish House on Maui, there really needs no explaining.

Restaurateur Wes Zane is at it again. The Hawaii-based restaurateur is expanding his culinary empire, this time with an "Asian-style Formaggio" on Kapahulu Avenue, set to open later this month. Sake Street will occupy the space left by Wasabi Bistro (which has relocated to Beachwalk Avenue in Waikiki), Zane is currently retrofitting the space and packing the shelves with sake.

Nobu enthusiasts rejoice: The man himself will be on O`ahu from February 9 – 12, 2010, to eat, drink and prepare his signature fare just for you. The global restaurateur will also work closely with MA`O Organic Farms to design an omakase menu inspired by the harvest of produce from the Waianae-based outfit.