Kona HI-PAL Keiki Poke Contest a Tasty Success

The Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Kona Community Policing Section proudly hosted its inaugural Hawaiʻi Island Police Activities League (HI-PAL) Keiki Poke Contest on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Resort in Kailua-Kona.

The event brought together talented young chefs, their families, and community members for a day celebrating creativity, culture, and Hawaiʻi’s rich culinary traditions.

Fifteen keiki from across West Hawaiʻi participated in the contest, which featured three age divisions: ages 5 to 8, 9 to 12, and 13 to 17, with five contestants competing in each division. Participants prepared their own unique poke recipes and were judged on creativity, presentation, taste, and the use of local ingredients.

“This event was about much more than a cooking competition,” said Officer Tyler Meno of the Kona Community Policing Section. “It gave our keiki an opportunity to learn about the cultural significance of poke, express their creativity, and build confidence in a fun and supportive environment. Seeing the pride on their faces and the support from their families made this event a tremendous success.”

HI-PAL is a Hawaiʻi Police Department program in which police officers engage with youth through recreational and educational activities while serving as mentors. These positive interactions help foster teamwork, responsibility, citizenship, and trust between youth and law enforcement.

The Hawaiʻi Police Department extends its sincere mahalo to the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Resort, Kona Village, Bryan Fujikawa of KGH Catering, the Betty Kanuha Foundation, and KBXtreme for their generous support in making this inaugural event possible. Their partnership helped provide a memorable experience that celebrated Hawaiʻi’s culinary traditions while encouraging the next generation of young chefs.

The department also thanks the contestants, their ʻohana, volunteers, and community members whose enthusiasm and support made the inaugural HI-PAL Keiki Poke Contest a tremendous success.