All Things Mango at the Moana

On July 9, the Moana Surfrider presents its third annual Mangoes At The Moana from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the tranquil, shady veranda of the hotel.

Enjoy a variety of activities and tasty dishes centered around the summer fruit by top chefs, all at the ocean-front courtyard overlooking Waikiki Beach. The event features all things mango — from local farmers and growers sharing their products to seminars about cultivating your own fruit to cooking contests. And of course, beachhouse at the Moana offers a selection of mango appetizers, entrees and desserts throughout the day.

Admission is free and open to the public, but you must purchase scripts for some of the tastings.

Mangoes at the Moana began when beachhouse manager Audrey Kamiya decided that she wanted to host an event centered around a popular item. The mango, she says, is the perfect choice. “The mango appeals to everybody, the locals and the visitors alike,” says Kamiya. “The mango is seasonal, so you can’t get it all the time.” When mango season does come around — the peak of which is typically June and July — the delectable fruit is in high demand.

And the Islands have some of the best. Many of the mangoes will be locally grown. “It’s another way to highlight the local growers and farmers,” says Kamiya.

The event also is combined with the second annual Mango Throw Down — a cooking competition among 11 local celebrity chefs who will prepare dishes using mangoes as the main ingredient.

The chefs include Darren Demaya of Rum Fire, who will prepare Butter Poached Kona Cold Lobster, Curried Mango Vinaigrette with Green Mango Salad and Mango Salsa, and Norman Soderberg of beachhouse who will be prepare Braised Beef Short Ribs with Hamakua Mushroom Risotto Cake, Mango and Chipotle infused Demi Sauce with Island Mango Chutney.

Each of the dishes will be available for tasting with the purchase of scripts. “It’s a good chance for the public to sample [the chefs’] unique creations,” says beachhouse manger Audrey M. Kamiya. Proceeds go toward the UH Culinary Institute of the Pacific. Chef Lee Anne Wong of Top Chef fame will judge the contest.

And don’t forget to bring your own mango dish too! From 10 to 11:30 a.m., you can compete in a Mango Recipe Contest.

The Mango Farmer’s Market also will be going on all day. Local growers and farms will feature their products and provide samples. The market also includes vendors such as Ono Pops, Tropilicious and Waialua Soda — all featuring their mango-inspired products — and artists showcasing creative mango-fused crafts, including koa woodwork and paintings.

Throughout the day, mango treats and entrees from beachhouse will be available for purchase. And from noon to 3 p.m., the Moana offers a tasty twist on its daily afternoon tea. There will be mango scones, mango mousse cake and mango sorbet.

And throughout the month of July, beachhouse will continue to make good use of mango season, offering mango scones, mango bread and strawberry mango waffles with the breakfast buffet, mango pastries with afternoon tea, Makaha Mango salad for lunch and weekly mango entree specials for dinner.

Event: Mangoes At The Moana

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