Kona Kohala Chefs Promote Use of Locally Produced Foods with Free Recipe Giveaway

Recipes by Island Chefs Distributed at Grocery Stores, Restaurants, Farmers Markets

HAWAI‘I ISLAND—The Kona Kohala Chefs Association is encouraging island residents to use locally produced proteins, vegetables, fruits and value-added products in their kitchens. 

The 46-year-old organziation is offering two dozen recipes created by 20 local chefs at islandwide grocery stores, farmers markets and restaurants. Recipes are available on colorful and handy tear-off pads at these food outlets.  

Choosing locally grown food is a powerful act of double-healing as it nourishes our bodies with peak freshness while instantly strengthening the financial roots of our island home,” says KK Chefs President Martin Rathbun. “Every time we buy from an island farmer, we skip the shipping containers and invest directly in our health and our neighbors' livelihoods. When we eat from the land we live on, we don't just fuel our bodies with vital nutrients—we secure the economic sovereignty of our entire island.”

Shoppers can find out how to make delicious entrees, sauces, salads, sides and desserts, all concocted by our talented island chefs and culinary instructors. Also offered is step-by-step food preservation instructions from Hawai‘i Master Food Preservers for drying/dehydrating fruits to make leathers and rollups, plus pickled kimchi and tropical fruit jellies like calamansi marmalade. 

Recipes vary in the amount of time and preparation effort required but all are geared to the home cook: Mac Nut Crusted Ono, Jean (Hullʻs) Poke, Tomato-Ogo Salad, Ume Miso Relish, Mo‘o Mo‘o Sweet Potatoes, Ulu Vichyssoise, Kona Cofee Creme Brulee and Kona Kabocha Chocolate Chip Cookies and affogato.  

Participating culinarians include HCC Palamanui instructors Paul Heerlein CCE, CCC and Cathy Harlan, Kalani Garcia of Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Stuart Woodman and Rob Love of The Theatery, Daniel Sampson of The Fairmont Orchid, Peter Merriman of Merrimans Hawai‘i, James Babian of Pueoʻs Osteria and Martin Rathbun of Marty Cakes & Company, to name a few. 

Pick up the free recipes at all island locations of KTA Super Stores, the Kona Safeway, Foodland Farms at the Mauna Lani Resort, Island Gourmet Market at Queens’ Marketplace, Hoʻoulu Community Farmers and Artisans Market Wednesday and Friday, Keauhou Farmers Market on Saturday, Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory, the Outrigger Kona Resort, The Fairmont Orchid, The Theatery and Chefs and Table.

In addition, recipes will be available at the Kona Kohala Chefs annual holiday fundraiser, Christmas with the Chefs, December 5, 2026 at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa.

The Local Foods in Island Recipes project is funded by the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. 

If you have a store or food outlet and would like sets of recipes for giveaway, please contact Ken Love at Ken@mycoffee.net.

American Culinary Federation Kona Kohala Chefs Association: ACF is the largest, professional, non-profit organization for chefs and cooks in the nation. Founded in 1980, the Kona Kohala chapter is comprised of food service professionals, vendors, growers and culinary enthusiasts. While the ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association is committed to culinary enrichment, its vision is to build a sustainable culinary workforce by hosting events to provide support for high school culinary programs, educational opportunities, scholarships for students and members, and opportunities for culinary competition and ACF certification. The ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association Charitable & Education Fund is a 501c3 non-profit organization. www.konakohalachefs.org.



The Kona Kohala Chefs Association is offering free recipes featuring local foods by 20 different chefs at island grocers, markets and restaurants. Gail Smith of Earth Matters Hemp Hawaii displays a recipe for Ulu Panzanella with Hamakua Feta Cheese by Outrigger Kona Resort Executive Chef Ash Danao at a recent Ho’oulu Community Farmers and Artisans Market in Keauhou. 


Cathy Barrett, formerly of Kailua Candy Company, displays a recipe for decadent Dark Chocolate Ganache using Original Hawaiian Chocolate at OHC’s Keauhou Chocolate Shoppe. The Kona Kohala Chefs Association is offering free recipes featuring local produce, proteins and value-added products by 20 different chefs at island grocers, markets and restaurants.