Meet the 2025 Localicious® Recipe Contest Winners!
Congratulations to Halia Kaaua from Kalani High School, winner of the 2025 Localicious® Recipe Contest Live Cook-Off at the Hawai‘i State Farm Fair!
Finalists wowed the judges with creative, locally inspired school lunch dishes.
1st Runner-Up: Mark Angelo Ragonton, Moloka‘i High
2nd Runner-Up: Skye Alvarado, Kaiser High
Mahalo to Hawai‘i Gas, our judges, and the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau for making this event possible!
Pictured from left: 1st Runner-up Mark Ragonton, 2025 winner Halia Kaaua, and 3rd Runner-up Skye Alvarado.
EAT THINK DRINK: A Night of Insight, Flavor & Connection
Mahalo to everyone who joined us for EAT THINK DRINK: Food Safety Unwrapped – Know What’s On Your Plate! It was an unforgettable evening filled with thought-provoking conversation, meaningful connections, and dishes that showcased the best of Hawai‘i’s locally grown ingredients.
Guests heard from keynote speaker Robin Forgey of Costco Wholesale, who offered a rare look into how one of the world’s largest food retailers manages safety and sustainability across a global supply chain. A panel of local leaders —representing growers to distributors — shared how food safety is being strengthened right here in Hawai‘i.
Following the program, guests enjoyed flavorful bites from four incredible chefs who each prepared dishes using fresh, locally sourced ingredients sold at Hawai‘i Costco stores — like tomatoes from Kawamata Farms and greens from Waipoli Greens.
Many thanks to all who came for the conversation, the cuisine, and community — you helped make it a night to remember.
If you missed it (or want to revisit your favorite moments), a recording of the program will be available in the coming weeks.
Celebrating a Year of Growth — Thanks to Our Teachers!
As the school year wraps up, we want to send a heartfelt mahalo to all the amazing educators and mentors who helped make HAF’s K-12 ag education programs a success!
Together, we reached more than 8,100 students across 91 schools statewide — sparking curiosity, promoting sustainability, and inspiring young minds to explore careers in agriculture and ag tech.
From planting seeds to exploring ag innovation, your commitment to Hawai‘i’s future is helping grow the next generation of local food and sustainability leaders.
Meet our Localicious Heroes
The Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation has partnered up with Searider Productions at Wai‘anae High School—a collective of teachers, students and programs dedicated to helping the students of the Wai‘anae complex succeed in all their endeavors—to film and profile O‘ahu farmers and value-added producers to highlight the amazing work happening in Hawai‘i’s agricultural industry.
Empowering Future Ag Leaders
Shop Our Mika the Sous Chef Collection
Make mealtime more meaningful with our limited-edition Mika the Sous Chef Collection! Perfect for keiki and families, easy-to-follow recipes from Hawai‘i’s top chefs will inspire healthy eating and a love for local ingredients.
Shop today and combine cooking enjoyment with community impact! Every purchase supports our educational programs for schools statewide. Limited supply – don’t wait!