Thank you for joining us for the inagural Taste of the Nation Hawaii!

Guests tasted culinary sensations prepared by Hawaii’s hottest chefs and mixologists, featuring the islands’ finest local producers, ranchers and farmers; a sense-sational event featuring the finest food, worldly wines, scintillating spirits, live entertainment, and an incredible silent auction. Guests who took part in the VIP reception got to be the first to meet participating chefs, savor their dishes and bid in the silent auction. Thank you for helping us ensure no kid in America grows up hungry!

Nearly 17 million children face hunger in America. Most families that live below the poverty line in America are working families, yet their regular income is not sufficient to cover the cost of housing, medical care, child care, transportation, clothing and food. Employment is simply not enough to safeguard these families against hunger and poverty.

Here in Hawaii, our Child Poverty Rate is nearly 14% which ranks us 41 of the 50 United States, while our national rank in Food Hardship is a devastating third place finish. One out of every four keiki in Hawaii face childhood hunger and we can do something to fix it.

Each ticket purchased helps support Share Our Strength’s efforts in eliminating childhood hunger as well as that of our local beneficiaries. In the wake of staggering reports that nearly half of all children in the U.S. will be on food stamps at the some point in their life, there is no time to waste. The time to act is now.

Taste of the Nation 2012 is proud to present our Participating Farms and Restaurants:

100% of ticket sales benefit Share Our Strength's efforts to end childhood hunger.

In Hawaii, Taste of the Nation proceeds locally benefit:

'AINA In Schools (A program of the Kokua Hawai'i Foundation)

'AINA In Schools is a farm to school program dedicated to connecting children to their land, waters and food in order to grow a healthier future for Hawai'i. Their mission: Actively Integrate Nutrition and Agriculture In Schools through promotion of healthy school lunches and snacks featuring locally grown produce, nutrition education in the classroom, garden-based learning, agricultural field trips, waste reduction, and family & community outreach.

The Hawaii Foodbank

Forms a vital link between the food donors and our member agencies by providing services in collecting, sorting, salvaging and distributing food. The Food 4 Keiki BackPack Program targets both unserved and underserved student populations. Feeding Our Future is a summer feeding program for children at risk of hunger, serving approximately 14,500 meals to over 500 kids, ages 4 through 17.