8 Thursday, May 4, 2017 Island Beat Hawaii Tribune-Herald HULI From page 6 style ice pop that uses fresh fruit and dairy or other fruit juices to create a delicious treat. Bockrath has between 40 and 50 flavors of paletas available, and is always working on new combinations. “Some are a gamble and a guess,” he says. “The ideas come into my head and I experiment with them.” Some of his more unusual successes include kabocha/date, jaboticaba/beet, avocado/ pineapple, chili/ mango and cucumber/ mint. That last one is very popular, he says, with regular Lili‘uokalani Garden walkers who stop on their route to get a paleta for a $1.50 a pop. For Hilo Huli, he will be bringing a sampler of four of his more popular flavors: haupia, lilikoi, banana/blueberry and strawberry cream. “I’ve got a 98 percent success rate on my recipes,” says Bockrath, who is looking to expand his paleta business and re-establish an old-fashioned soda fountain on the Alii Ice Co. grounds. “Our motto is ‘never the same twice, but always good’ because of the variation in fruits, some of which I raise myself and others I get from the farmers market or local farmers. The only sweeteners I use are a little bit of raw sugar, honey or stevia. Most people come by and are impressed and come back.” Returning to the Hilo Huli this year is reigning People’s Choice Award winner Short n Sweet Bakery & Café, who will bring their reimagined dish “sprinkle nachos.” They will join other veteran participants Seaside Restaurant, Hilo Yacht Club, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel and Le Magic Pan. Also returning this year are Akmal Foods, Liko Lehua Café at Pauahi, Coconut Grill, Café Pesto, Sombat’s Fresh Thai Cuisine, Hawaii Island Gourmet Products and Sweet Thunder Products. Participants this year are serving up everything from pulled pork sliders with guava hoisin barbeque sauce to blackened shrimp over Tuscan orzo, lamb curry, crab cakes, prime rib, tofu pad thai, Asian-braised short ribs, porchetta bruschetta and sushi. Higa’s shave ice will keep guests cool with their treats, and look for Coca-Cola, Hilo Coffee Mill, Kona Brew/ Anheuser Busch, Mehana Brewing Co., Pepsi Beverages and Young’s Market, and Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water to quench your thirst between delicious bites with everything from soft drinks to beer and wine. Year after year, Wilson says, Hilo Huli is an enjoyable afternoon for guests and vendors alike. The atmosphere is like none other, and vendors raise the bar with interesting and tasty dishes consistently. “I really appreciate these vendors who come forward and do these wonderful things, like Colin Nakagawa of Seaside Restaurant & Aqua Farm, who has been with Hilo Huli since the first year and is bringing prime rib to this year’s event,” Wilson says. “People always look forward to Hilo Hawaiian Hotel and Hilo Yacht Club, too. I can always count on them.” The food and drink aren’t the only draw. A full lineup of entertainment includes Na Hoku Hanohano winner Mark Yamanaka and the eclectic music stylings of Jennie Goya Kaneshiro and friends. “Hilo Huli is a perfect way to have a really enjoyable time with family and friends while doing good for our community,” says event chairman Doug Adams. “I always look forward to the great entertainment, and when it comes to the vendors, I’m always pleased that we have such a variety of quality vendors who want to come and connect with the community.” All proceeds benefit the Rotary Club of South Hilo Foundation. Money raised from this year’s event will support a variety of community projects throughout East Hawaii. The Rotary Club of South Hilo, which celebrates its 61st anniversary this fall, has raised more than $250,000 the past 12 years through Hilo Huli to support a variety of local and international projects. “With this year’s proceeds, we plan to take a look at the needs in the community as we have done every year,” Adams says. “In the past, we have focused on providing support for health care, recreation and youth-related activities. We will make the decision as a club where the monies will go. But one thing that will remain the same is all the funds that come through the foundation through Hilo Huli will be dispersed entirely to the community.” Tickets are $55 per person ($30 is tax deductible), available from any South Hilo Rotary Club member, Aiona Car Sales, Short n Sweet Bakery & Café, The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo, Creative Arts and online at Hilohuli. org. For more information, call 989-3003. Advance Tickets: General: $20 Side Reserved: $25 Cntr. Reserved: $30 Stop by the box office or call 934-7010, M-F, 10am-3pm Courtesy photo Chef Ernie Gray of Poke Market LLC holds a sushi cake. He will be presenting mini sushi cakes at this year’s Hilo Huli. Participants this year are serving up everything from pulled pork sliders with guava hoisin barbeque sauce to blackened shrimp over Tuscan orzo, lamb curry, crab cakes, prime rib, tofu pad thai, Asian-braised short ribs, porchetta bruschetta and sushi.
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