Culinary Empowerment for Kona Youth During Spring Break

La`i`ōpua 2020 in Kealakehe invites Kona youth ages 13 to 17 to join an enriching culinary program over Spring Break. Taking place from March 18 to 22, from 9am to 1pm each day,  the program offers comprehensive instruction in basic cooking and food preparation skills.  The week concludes with a ho`ike for families on Friday, March 22, starting at 2 p.m. Participation in the program is free, however, a refundable $150 deposit is required. To be eligible for a refund, students must attend each day of the program.

The program aims to empower students with essential culinary skills, enabling them to actively contribute to household meal planning and cooking. The curriculum covers essential kitchen techniques, equipment and utensils usage, kitchen hygiene and cleanliness, safe food handling procedures, and proficiency in knife skills. These skills not only enhance daily life but also lay the groundwork for a potential future career in the culinary industry.

La`i` ōpua 2020 Executive Director Kawehi Inaba expressed gratitude to the County of Hawai`i and Council Member Rebecca Villegas for funding this program. “Learning cooking skills builds life-long self-assurance,” said Inaba, adding, “Shared interests in cooking fosters connections and supportive friendships, helping students collaborate and face challenges together. This program not only enhances cooking abilities, it also provides a nurturing environment for overall student development.”

To apply for the program, go to https://www.laiopua.org/youth-culinary-program. Space is limited. For further information, contact La`i`ōpua 2020 at 808.327.1221.

ABOUT LA`I`ŌPUA 2020

La`i`ōpua 2020 is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide social, recreational, vocational, economic, educational, and cultural opportunities and infrastructure to Native Hawaiians to include the communities of the Kealakehe ahupua`a. It is a place for pilina (building and supporting one another through relationships) and pu`uhonua (a place of comfort, peace, and safety). For more information about La`i`ōpua 2020, visit its website, Laiopua.org, or call 808.327.1221.