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Two attain Eagle Scout status
Makua Lani students Gage Allen and Brandt Mabuni were honored recently at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony at Grace Community Church.
Allen and Mabuni attended Kona Christian Academy and graduated from Makua Lani Christian School at the end of May. They have held every leadership position in scouting and have served as mentors and role models in the troop.
Allen is a world-class archer who was state archery champion from 2008 to 2011, has placed in national championships and is qualified for world team trials. He was also a member of the honor roll and recipient of the School Principal’s Award. He plans to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard and serve as an aviation maintenance technician working on rescue helicopters and C130 aircraft.
Mabuni was a four-year, three-season high school athlete, running cross country and playing soccer, baseball and tennis. In his four years, he has been to eight state championships, captained six teams and made several All-BIIF selections while taking AP courses and maintaing a 3.9 grade point average. He plans to attend Azusa Pacific University in the fall, pursuing a career in the medical field.
Big Island Chocolate Festival names culinary winners
Six culinary stations took top honors at the recent Big Island Chocolate Festival at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. Renowned New York City chocolatier Jacques “Mr. Chocolate” Torres oversaw a team of judges who critiqued the savory and sweet creations by chefs and confectioners. Winners and their entries included:
Best Savory: The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii. Big Isle chocolate pork mole with tomatillo salsa over kabocha pumpkin maki.
Best Dessert: Hilton Waikoloa Village. Orange ginger chocolate mac nut crunch torte.
Best Bonbons: Sweet Paradise Chocolatier. Island bounty assortment: lilikoi silk, Ka’u cappuccino, Kula lavender ‘n Maui honeycomb, coconut creme brulee and mango eruption.
Best Bean to Bar: Madre Chocolate.
People’s Choice — First Place: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. Twenty-four-hour braised wild boar grilled cheese with chocolate and barbecue bourbon sauce and Hawaiian chili pepper; Mac nut crusted chocolate pop with lilikoi foam and alae salted caramel.
People’s Choice — Second Place: Kailua Candy Company. Cathy’s retro mai tai.
Three hundred attendees enjoyed the festival’s offerings, which included live and silent auctions to benefit the building of a new amphitheatre at Kona Pacific Public Charter School and the “Equip the Kitchen” Campaign for the future Hawaii Community College campus at Palamanui.