On Kauaʻi, luxury is rooted in provenance— the land that grows it, the hands that prepare it, and the culinary history carried to the table.
“Rooted in Place: A Harvest Dinner” is a new confluence between 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Culinary Director Pete Ghione, and the Waipā Foundation that brings the story of Kauaʻi’s generational land to the table at 1 Kitchen.
The farm-to-table dinner introduces guests to a period when ʻohana relied on seasonal Hawaiian farming and food traditions. The five-course, wine-paired dinner is set for Wednesday, Aug. 26, and Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Chef Ghione told Kauaʻi Now that he views every meal as a unique opportunity to showcase the distinctive flavors of ingredients grown on the island.
“On Kauaʻi, it’s never just about food,” Ghione said. “It’s history. It’s geography. It’s ʻohana. Itʻs medicine. It’s a memory.”
He explained that the idea began with a food tour at Waipā.
After exploring its 1,600-acre valley, uncovering the history of Hawaiian agriculture, and delving into the origins of medicinal bounty, he aimed for his guests to “learn more about the ingredients and the land.”
“I will talk through each dish as it’s served, while a Waipā educator shares about the history,” he said. “A sommelier will lead the wine pairings.”
The selected ingredients for the initial dinner offer an array that includes kalo, ‘ulu, poi, hōʻiʻo fern shoots, sweet potato and taro leaves, eggplant, papaya, banana, and kō sugar cane.
“And of course, we have our farm garden ourselves on the rooftop, so a lot of our herbs are going to come from there as well,” the chef said.
As part of the experience, guests are encouraged to visit the Waipā Food and Tour, meet the stewards of the land, and further learn how mālama ʻāina principles continue to shape Waipāʻs role in the North Shore community.
Ghione added: “Kauaʻi and its farm community are powerful. There are great stories in all of it, but many more are still waiting to be shared.”
Click here to reserve a spot for the Waipā Foundation Food and Tour and learn more about their community programs.
To reserve a seat at Rooted in Place: A Harvest Dinner, click here. The price is $250 per individual. Additionally, $25 from each ticket supports the Waipā Foundation.
