Chefs to Headline Maui Fil-Am Heritage Festival

Chef Jonathan Pasion of Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. Courtesy photo.

Chef Jonathan Pasion of Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Chef Kirk Areola of the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas and Chef Dennis Yu-Cua of the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, will compete for the title of Master P-Noy Chef at the Maui Fil-Am Heritage Festival on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, at Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is presented by the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce Foundation as part of the month-long celebration of Filipino-American History Month.

October is celebrated as Filipino-American History Month throughout the country but Hawai‘i was the first state to formally recognize October as Filipino-American History Month with Act 15 (2008), codified at Hawai‘i Revised Statutes Section 8-18. Act 15 designated the month of October as Filipino-American History Month to “commemorate the contributions of Filipino-Americans to the history and heritage of Hawai‘i and the United States.”

The Maui Fil-Am Heritage Festival is the premier event in the State of Hawai‘i that celebrates Filipino-American History Month, according to Event Chairperson Melen Agcolicol.

“The Maui Filipino Chamber Foundation started the festival in 2011 to share our culture, our history and heritage, as well as promote our Filipino business community,” said Agcolicol.

Chef Dennis Yu-Cua of the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. Courtesy photo.

The Master P-Noy Chef Cook Off pits defending champion Pasion against the two challengers. Pasion recently won The Good Taste Series Americas Regional Competition featuring eleven chefs from Hyatt Hotels in North America. No Chef has repeated except for Chef Joey Macadangdang who “three-peated” (2012, 2013, 2014). Other Chefs who won were Sheldon Simeon (2011), Ritchard Cariaga (2015) and Gemsley Balagso (2016).

A variety of food vendors, including Paradise Supermart Fast Food & Catering, CAA Market Place, Pinoy Foodmart & Catering Service, Vidad’s Local Kind Grindz and Wailuku Seafood Center will be on-hand to serve adobo, pansit, lumpia, and pork and peas.

Desserts such as halo halo and ube ice cream will also be available. M’g Pedring’s Cart will sell Ice Candy, sponsored by Friends of Michael Victorino.

A number of contests will be held, such as the Any Kine Adobo Contest sponsored by Tante’s Island Cuisine, The Polvoron Challenge: Eat&Tweet sponsored by Attorney Benjamin Acob, the Oh Wow! Parol Making Contest sponsored by Wailuku Seafood Center, the Speedy Balut Eating Contest sponsored by Esteban Construction LLC and the Pinoy Artist Contest sponsored by Mass Mutual Pacific.

Chef Kirk Areola of the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas. Courtesy photo.

Events for youth include the Pabitin at the Fest! sponsored by Friends of Justin Woodson and the Your Name in Baybayin, which is the ancient script of the Philippines.

This year’s We Got History Exhibit will highlight Filipino Americans in Maui’s tourism industry.

Those in attendance may also enter to win a drawing for one of two round-trip airfares—Honolulu to Manila—sponsored by Philippine Airlines.

For more information and to keep updated on festival events, go online or contact Agcolicol at (808) 205-7981 or [email protected].