(BIVN) – The Smoke It Up! festival returns to Downtown Pāhoa on Saturday, November 14.
The second annual food and music event will be held at Hale Hālāwai O Puna from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The event will bring together local chefs, farmers, ranchers, and food lovers for an afternoon of “smoked food bites, live music, and community celebration”, organizers say.
From an event news release:
The all-you-can-eat event features 16 chef stations serving tasting-sized dishes that highlight locally sourced proteins prepared with traditional and modern smoking techniques. The menu includes Smoked Meat Lūʻau, Imu Beef Brisket Sliders, Smoked Pork Chowder, Waiwī Pipikaula Crisp, No Worries Sheep Curry, Venison Mac & Cheese, Smoked Marlin Hydroponic Salad, Thai-Style Sausage Sliders, Sheep Huli Huli, Smoked Macadamia Tiramisu, and more.
Guests can also enjoy craft cocktails, local mead, and live entertainment by Drew Daniels & Friends and Kona Town’s Finest.
“Food brings people together, and that’s what Smoke it Up! is all about,” said District 4 Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz, one of the event organizers. “Rising grocery costs and recent disasters have shown us how vulnerable our food supply can be. Smoke it Up! started with the idea of finding productive uses for feral pigs. This year, we’re featuring a wider variety of locally sourced meats to celebrate our farmers and ranchers and show what’s possible when we invest in producing and processing more food right here at home.”
Tickets are $75 in advance, with a $15 discount available using promo code SMOKE26, bringing the price to $60. Admission includes access to all 16 chef stations and beverages.
The full chef lineup, menu, and tickets are available at smokeitup808.com.
Smoke it Up! is a collaboration between Mālama O Puna, Hawaiʻi County Council District 4, Pāhoa Lava Zone Museum, Hale Hālāwai O Puna, and Activate Hawaiʻi.
