There are so many wonderful experiences that I have been given the opportunity to share with you on a daily basis as I navigate through the heart and soul of the Pearl City community. From keiki to kupuna, their stories of success, dreams, and life challenges are heartfelt and forever documented while reflecting and embracing our community’s past, present, and vision for the future.
I would like to recognize a true example of P.C. I.N.K. Incredible Neighborhood Kids from Palisades Elementary School in Pearl City. Students from the Hui ʻAhaʻaina Culinary Program, along with their advisor/teacher and award winning chef Cherilyn Evangelista, and school Vice Principal Jan Kanaeholo, invited me to Saturday’s monthly cooking workshop as they prepared and baked fresh chocolate chip cookies and deep fried ice cream malasadas in their classroom at Palisades Elementary School.
The Hui ʻAhaʻaina Culinary class students were great as they worked together to perfect the new recipes for chocolate chip cookies and ice cream malasadas that they will be selling at the school’s Fall Carnival scheduled for Friday, September 29, 2023, from 3pm-7pm.
They also took part in a Q&A session led by Vice Principal Kanaeholo and their teacher Ms. Evangelista regarding the importance of working together as a team and the many responsibilities and duties as culinary students in the classroom and in the kitchen.
Mary (Villamil) and I received a warm welcome from the students as we entered the classroom/kitchen Saturday morning and were treated to a couple delicious fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and ice cream malasadas. They were so good and Mary and I will definitely be there at the Fall Carnival on September 29 to buy and enjoy the delicious goodies and to share with our ohana, and especially to support the school fundraiser.
It was wonderful to witness on Saturday how much the Hui ʻAhaʻaina Culinary Program has grown since its inception at the beginning of the 2022/2023 school year. The energy and excitement from the students to learn and enjoy all that their culinary program has to offer is inspiring. But most of all, the students have big hearts and love to share what they have learned and created with their fellow classmates, ohana, and guests to their classroom/kitchen.
It all begins with the Hui ʻAhaʻaina Culinary Program leadership and guidance from Vice Principal Kanaeholo and advisor/teacher Ms. Evangelista, and the support from the community and corporate sponsors to the culinary program.
I am blessed for the opportunity to represent the Pearl City Shopping in support of the Palisades Elementary School Hui ʻAhaʻaina Culinary Program as it grows and inspires other schools while working together to one day create their own culinary programs.
Mentorships, financial support, and community volunteer partnerships through the years has played an integral role in the Pearl City Shopping Center and MyPearlCity.com supporting and building upon the foundation of Pearl City’s growth and success as we watch out and care for one another’s needs and vision for a happy, prosperous, and safe community in which to live in.
Congratulations to the amazing PC I.N.K. Incredible Neighborhood Kids from the Palisades Elementary School Hui ʻAhaʻaina Culinary Program!
Video and Photos by Barry Villamil | MyPearlCity.com
