TIP-OFF
Hawai'i will celebrate garlic Sept. 21-22

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

Inspired by the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, Calif., the nation's garlic-growing capital, the Hawai'i Garlic Festival and Home Grown Products show will be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 21 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Waikiki Shell.

The event, presented by the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, will be a cornucopia of festivities, tapping not only garlic cookery and competitions, but a produce sale, three stages of continuous island entertainment, extreme games and matches, skateboarding, keiki activities, wine tasting, and magic and other shows.

Highlights:

• Gourmet Hale, patterned after Gilroy's Gourmet Hall, featuring cooking demonstrationss.

• An appearance by the Gilroy Pyro Chefs.

• A dozen local kitchens, preparing entrees and desserts, including Gyotaku, Brew Moon, Kincaid's, Palomino Euro Bistro, California Pizza Kitchen, Lavern's Catering, Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar, The Willows, Paala Kai Bakery, Cafe Laufer, O&S Saimin, Marian's Catering, and the Culinary School of Windward Community College.

• Performances by more than 50 island acts, including O-Shen, the Opihi Pickers, Vaihi, Fort, Chief Ragga, Reign, Believe, Koa'uka, Tino & the Rhythm Klub, Jennifer Perri, Forte, Son Caribe, Centre Stage, Sonya Mendez, Epic Session, Cory Oliveros, Kimo Opiana, Johnny Helm, Solanna, Bluegrass Hawai'i, H20 and more.

• Extreme sports activities, featuring trick skateboarding by 808-SKATE, and solo and tag team wrestling from Island X-Treme Wrestling.

• Keiki Pavilion, offering interactive events such as jump-rope demonstrations and Yo-yo.

Admission: $5, free for 12 and younger and those 65 or older.