Ho'okuku Poke I'a Contestant

Contest Rules Below:

The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort presents

ALOHA FESTIVALS ISLAND OF HAWAI’I

MOANA NUI OCEAN FESTIVAL 2024

Ho’okuku Poke I’a Poke Contest

Theme Ingredient: He’e (octopus)

Saturday, June 15, 2024 | 4:00pm – 8:00pm Grand Ballroom

Contest Rules

The first 40 registered contestants will be able to receive the required six pounds of fish for us in their recipe. The specific fish type is unknown and will be provided at a later date, we usually give out Ahi. The pick-up time will be on Friday, June 14, 2024 between 12pm- 4pm, pick-up location to be determined at a later date. Participants may also elect to provide their own fish, if preferred.

1. Entry Fee. $40 per entry (per recipe entered). This fee includes one Aloha Festivals Island of Hawai’i medallion. Payment must be received with the recipe and entry form. Contestants may enter as many times as they choose. However, a separate  entry fee and form must accompany each recipe.
2. There are no divisions, amateur and professional are encouraged to enter and will be put together in the same division. Let your poke speak for itself! Beat out the chef or let the chef show you how it’s done.
3. Main contestants must be at least 18 years of age. Assistant can be any age.
4. Entries must be received no later than Thursday, June 13, 2024.
5. Illegible entries will be disqualified. Aloha Festivals Island of Hawai’i and Westin Hapuna Beach Resort are not responsible for lost, illegible, incomplete, misaddressed, postage due (if mailing), or otherwise misdirected entries or transactions that are processed late or incorrectly.
6. Hawai’i residency is not required. Subject to applicable Federal, State, and local laws and      regulations.
7. Poke means to chop into cube-like  sizes, therefore seafood is not required to enter this competition, but      keep in mind that seafood is recommended and or preferred. The name of the  contest - Poke I’a meaning cube fish.
8. Seafood and fish are the main focus, but not limited to Ahi, Ono, Marlin, Snapper, Octopus, Squid, Opihi, Abalone, Tilapia, Crab, Imitation Crab, Lobster, Shrimp, Prawns or pond-raised Crawfish, Clams, Oysters, etc.. Fish or seafood may be raw or  cooked.
9. We encourage creative use of Limu or other seaweed, seeds, herbs, spices, nuts, marinades, Tofu, fruits, vegetables, and seasonings.
10. Recipes must be submitted in one of the following categories:

🐟 ____ Best Traditional Poke*

🐟 ____ Poke with Sauce/ Oil (Shoyu, Oyster, Sesame Oil)

🐟 ____ Poke with Limu (Ogo, Kohu, all seaweed varieties)

🐟 ____ Poke Fusion (Anything goes)

*Ingredients allowed in “Best Traditional Poke” are limited to traditional, indigenous, endemic ingredients and in some cases pre-contact only. Pre-contact is defined as before 1790 in Hawai’i. You must have justification for an ingredient and provide evidence of its native origin if your recipe is in question. Otherwise, it will be entered into another category.

Some ALLOWEDitems:

Limu (seaweed, all varieties)

Native fish (all varieties)

Pa’akai and Alaea (Hawaiian sea salts)

Inamona (kukui nut)

He’e (squid)

Opihi (limpet)

Lobster

Wana and Ha’uke’uke (sea urchin)

Opae (shrimp)

Kowau (fish eggs)

Ho’i’o (fern shoots)

Native Crab (all varieties)

Pala (fern)

Niu (coconut)

Example of Ingredients NOT ALLOWED in “Best Traditional Poke” include:

Onion

Peppers

Salmon

Soy Sauce

Oil

Sesame Seed

Sauces

1. Recipes must be written in English, Hawaiian or Pidgin Creole
2. We need to know what is in the contents, not so much the measurements.
3. No recipe changes will be allowed  once the recipe has been submitted.
4. Entries will be judged 100% on taste.
5. Bonus Category: Contestants are encouraged to be creative in the presentation display (table décor,  presentation vessel, etc.) as there will be a 1st place money award for presentation. Contestants will be provided with a 6ft table to display their entry. Presentation décor should have relevance to your Poke dish.
6. Bonus Category: Contestants that use the year’s themed ingredient will be automatically entered into the “Theme Ingredients” category  as a bonus. There will be a 1st place money award for this category. This year’s theme ingredient is He’e (Octopus).
7. Six (6) pounds of prepared Poke must be brought to the contest. The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort/ Aloha Festivals will provide the table, uniform skirting, tablecloths, tasting cups, silverware, and ice. Contestants are responsible for replenishing their Poke displays during the public tasting segment. One person is permitted to enter with the entrant as the kokua and will be required to purchase an ALOHA FESTIVALS Island of Hawai’i medallion. The medallion will be available for purchase at the door.
8. You can pre-mix your poke or mix  on-site on your 6ft table provided in the ballroom. Keep in mind that you would need to keep your space as clean as possible, it will be judged. The hotel is limited on linens and will not be able to provide you with an additional tablecloth if you dirty the one you were given.