Nine Hawai‘i public school kitchen teams from Hawai‘i Island and O‘ahu have been selected to compete in the inaugural Localicious® School Kitchen Cook-off on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at the Hawai‘i State Farm Fair in Whitmore Village. The event is made possible with generous support from FreshPoint Hawai‘i/Armstrong Produce, Hawai‘i Gas, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and Parker Ranch.
Created by the HAF in collaboration with the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE), the competition celebrates the creativity, skill, and dedication of Hawai‘i's school food service professionals while supporting efforts to increase the use of locally grown, raised, and caught ingredients in public school meals.
The cook-off supports Hawai‘i's goal of sourcing 30 percent local food in public school meals by 2030 and highlights the important role school meal programs can play in supporting local agriculture, improving student nutrition, and strengthening food security across the state.
“School meals have the power to do far more than feed students,” said HIDOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi. “They can influence lifelong eating habits, support student success, strengthen connections to local agriculture, and improve the health of our communities. The Localicious® School Kitchen Cook-off showcases the talent of our cafeteria teams and demonstrates how local food can help shape a healthier future for Hawai‘i.”
The competition challenges school kitchen teams to create original, student-friendly recipes featuring locally raised ground beef donated by Parker Ranch and Hawai‘i-grown ingredients. During the live cook-off teams will prepare their dishes, which will be judged by students representing HIDOE schools.
The winning recipe will earn a place on the HIDOE 2027–2028 school lunch menu, giving students statewide the opportunity to enjoy a dish created by Hawai‘i's own school kitchen professionals.
“The Localicious® competition is a glimpse into the future of school meals in Hawai‘i,” said Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, who has championed the Regional Kitchen initiative and efforts to strengthen Hawai‘i's food security. “As we build the infrastructure needed to connect local agriculture with our schools we are creating opportunities to support local farmers, improve student nutrition, and increase our state's resilience. This competition demonstrates how those investments can translate into healthier meals for our keiki.”
The event also shines a spotlight on the important role school food service teams play in the lives of Hawai‘i's students.
“Food is one of the most powerful ways we show care and aloha for our keiki,” said First Lady Jaime Kanani Green. “Every school meal is an opportunity to nourish a child, support a local farmer and strengthen our communities. This competition celebrates the dedicated cafeteria workers who are helping build a healthier future for Hawai‘i one meal at a time.”
• Kahakai Elementary School – John Harding and Rizz Badar
• Kalaniana‘ole Elementary School – Amanda Santiago and Ashlyn Kekoa
• Kea‘au High School – Kendrick Dacayanan and Jairlynn Kinoshita
• Kohala High School – Indigo Mathewson and Jean Pang
• Konawaena High School – Edward Romero and Pearl Muraki
• Mililani Mauka Elementary School – David Kim and Micah Rodriguez
• Moanalua Middle School – Robby Wooldridge and Derrick Ailipo
• Waiākeawaena Elementary School – Justina Frias and Sydirah Aricayos
• Washington Middle School – Somphet Chanhpheng and Lucas Fong
The public is invited to attend the Hawai‘i State Farm Fair and cheer on the teams as they compete. Fair attendees can also enjoy agricultural exhibits, educational activities, local food vendors, entertainment, farm demonstrations, and family-friendly activities. The winning team will be announced on the Main Stage at 4 p.m.
Localicious® School Kitchen Cook-off
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Hawai‘i State Farm Fair | Whitmore Village, Oʻahu
HEAT 1: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Mililani Mauka Elementary School
Moanalua Middle School
Washington Middle School
HEAT 2: 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Kahakai Elementary School
Kalanianaʻole Elementary School
Waiākeawaena Elementary School
HEAT 3: 1:45 p.m. –2:45 p.m.
Keaʻau High School
Kohala High School
Konawaena High School
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Nine Hawai‘i public school kitchen teams from Hawai‘i Island and O‘ahu have been selected to compete in the inaugural Localicious® School Kitchen Cook-off on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at the Hawai‘i State Farm Fair in Whitmore Village. The event is made possible with generous support from FreshPoint Hawai‘i/Armstrong Produce, Hawai‘i Gas, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and Parker Ranch.
Created by the HAF in collaboration with the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE), the competition celebrates the creativity, skill, and dedication of Hawai‘i's school food service professionals while supporting efforts to increase the use of locally grown, raised, and caught ingredients in public school meals.
The cook-off supports Hawai‘i's goal of sourcing 30 percent local food in public school meals by 2030 and highlights the important role school meal programs can play in supporting local agriculture, improving student nutrition, and strengthening food security across the state.
“School meals have the power to do far more than feed students,” said HIDOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi. “They can influence lifelong eating habits, support student success, strengthen connections to local agriculture, and improve the health of our communities. The Localicious® School Kitchen Cook-off showcases the talent of our cafeteria teams and demonstrates how local food can help shape a healthier future for Hawai‘i.”
The competition challenges school kitchen teams to create original, student-friendly recipes featuring locally raised ground beef donated by Parker Ranch and Hawai‘i-grown ingredients. During the live cook-off teams will prepare their dishes, which will be judged by students representing HIDOE schools.
The winning recipe will earn a place on the HIDOE 2027–2028 school lunch menu, giving students statewide the opportunity to enjoy a dish created by Hawai‘i's own school kitchen professionals.
“The Localicious® competition is a glimpse into the future of school meals in Hawai‘i,” said Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, who has championed the Regional Kitchen initiative and efforts to strengthen Hawai‘i's food security. “As we build the infrastructure needed to connect local agriculture with our schools we are creating opportunities to support local farmers, improve student nutrition, and increase our state's resilience. This competition demonstrates how those investments can translate into healthier meals for our keiki.”
The event also shines a spotlight on the important role school food service teams play in the lives of Hawai‘i's students.
“Food is one of the most powerful ways we show care and aloha for our keiki,” said First Lady Jaime Kanani Green. “Every school meal is an opportunity to nourish a child, support a local farmer and strengthen our communities. This competition celebrates the dedicated cafeteria workers who are helping build a healthier future for Hawai‘i one meal at a time.”
• Kahakai Elementary School – John Harding and Rizz Badar
• Kalaniana‘ole Elementary School – Amanda Santiago and Ashlyn Kekoa
• Kea‘au High School – Kendrick Dacayanan and Jairlynn Kinoshita
• Kohala High School – Indigo Mathewson and Jean Pang
• Konawaena High School – Edward Romero and Pearl Muraki
• Mililani Mauka Elementary School – David Kim and Micah Rodriguez
• Moanalua Middle School – Robby Wooldridge and Derrick Ailipo
• Waiākeawaena Elementary School – Justina Frias and Sydirah Aricayos
• Washington Middle School – Somphet Chanhpheng and Lucas Fong
The public is invited to attend the Hawai‘i State Farm Fair and cheer on the teams as they compete. Fair attendees can also enjoy agricultural exhibits, educational activities, local food vendors, entertainment, farm demonstrations, and family-friendly activities. The winning team will be announced on the Main Stage at 4 p.m.
Localicious® School Kitchen Cook-off
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Hawai‘i State Farm Fair | Whitmore Village, Oʻahu
HEAT 1: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Mililani Mauka Elementary School
Moanalua Middle School
Washington Middle School
HEAT 2: 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Kahakai Elementary School
Kalanianaʻole Elementary School
Waiākeawaena Elementary School
HEAT 3: 1:45 p.m. –2:45 p.m.
Keaʻau High School
Kohala High School
Konawaena High School
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