{"id":225852,"date":"2025-11-20T14:45:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T00:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=225852"},"modified":"2026-06-05T17:49:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T03:49:54","slug":"taste-the-town-wahiawa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/11\/20\/taste-the-town-wahiawa\/","title":{"rendered":"Big support for small brands at Taste the Town Wahiaw\u0101"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Taste the Town Wahiaw\u0101 at Leeward CC<\/abbr>‘s WVAPDC<\/abbr>. (Photo credit: Kaiehu Helela)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Crowds streamed through Leeward Community College\u2019s Wahiaw\u0101 Value-Added Product Development Center<\/a> (WVAPDC<\/abbr>) on November 15, as Taste the Town Wahiaw\u0101 transformed the facility into a bustling hub of local food, culture and community.<\/p>\n

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Docent-led trolley rides at Taste the Town Wahiaw\u0101. (Photo credit: City and County of Honolulu)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was a welcome sign of support for value-added food innovation and locally sourced products.<\/p>\n

“Everyone really wants to support local and see small brands succeed,” said Berklee Welsh, owner of coconut peanut butter brand Shaka Butter and a regular user of the WVAPDC<\/abbr> kitchens. “Meeting customers at farmers’ markets, sharing my product with neighbors, and being part of Taste the Town; those are the moments that remind me of how much support I have behind me.”<\/p>\n

The event was presented in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu\u2019s Office of Economic Revitalization<\/a> (OER<\/abbr>) and Wahiaw\u0101 Fresh<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Berklee Welsh, owner of Shaka Butter. (Photo credit: City and County of Honolulu)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It featured an expanded version of the center\u2019s monthly market, with more than 40 vendors offering a range of products from baked goods and pickled vegetables to locally brewed ginger beverages and specialty spreads\u2014many of which were developed using the WVAPDC<\/abbr>\u2019s commercial kitchen and processing facilities.<\/p>\n

Strengthening the community<\/h2>\n

“Our monthly market has always focused on uplifting local food producers by creating new sales opportunities and greater exposure\u2014ultimately building a more resilient food economy,” said Chris Bailey, manager of the WVAPDC<\/abbr>. “We\u2019re honored to work with OER<\/abbr> and Wahiaw\u0101 Fresh to expand that vision through Taste the Town.”<\/p>\n

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Chef Alan Wong, a Wahiaw\u0101 native, demonstrates how to cook pork and beans. (Photo credit: Kaiehu Helela)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Performances by the Royal Hawaiian Band, Ryugen Taiko, school groups and local musicians kept the crowds engaged. Another major draw was the cooking demonstrations by culinary innovators such as Chef Alan Wong, a Wahiaw\u0101 native, whose return to his hometown brought out former classmates and family members.<\/p>\n

Free docent-led trolley rides also introduced visitors to Wahiaw\u0101\u2019s historic neighborhoods and nearby small businesses.<\/p>\n

“Taste the Town was a blend of nostalgic and new, shining a light on Wahiaw\u0101\u2019s unique history, food culture, and the innovative products emerging from our community,” said Wahiaw\u0101 Fresh President Darin Uesugi.<\/p>\n

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Royal Hawaiian Band performs at Taste the Town Wahiaw\u0101. (Photo credit: City and County of Honolulu)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

OER<\/abbr> Executive Director Amy Asselbaye added, “When we gather to support local producers and enjoy entertainment in the heart of Wahiaw\u0101, we are strengthening the social and economic fabric of our community.”<\/p>\n

Taste the Town Wahiaw\u0101 was sponsored by Hawaiian Electric, Beall Corporation, and Yaris Ohana, and supported by the Office of Councilmember Matt Weyer, Office of Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Oʻahu<\/span> Visitors Bureau, Wahiaw\u0101 Town Center, Wahiaw\u0101 Hongwanji Mission and Wahiaw\u0101 Lions Club.<\/p>\n

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Taste the Town Wahiaw\u0101 at Leeward’s WVAPDC<\/abbr>. Photo credit: Kaiehu Helela)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Local producers gain exposure, building a stronger, more resilient food economy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[734,65,71,1785],"class_list":["post-225852","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-leeward-community-college","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-wahiawa-value-added-product-development-center","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t