Media release | Hawaiʻi Community College

Annual Japanese Chamber of Commerce event provides fun, food and funds

Hawaiʻi Community College held a mahalo luncheon on February 17 in honor of the Hawai‘i Island Japanese Chamber of Commerce for their generous donation of $10,000. The college is pleased to share that this is the 12th year that the Hawai‘i Island Japanese Chamber of Commerce has donated funds from its very popular annual Taste of Hilo event and is grateful for their continued support of its students, programs and services.

At the luncheon, the college reported that the funds would be used to continue many worthwhile projects such as student scholarships and achievement awards, the ‘Ohana Student Emergency Fund, college-wide benefit and program improvements and faculty/staff development. As in years past, awards and scholarships would be given to qualified students in Hawai‘i Community College’s many outstanding liberal arts and career and technical programs.

This year’s Taste of Hilo event, which was held at the Sangha Hall, featured a number of well known restaurants and vendors, and showcased sturgeon for the first time, which is locally raised on the Big Island. Hundreds of hungry guests were able to sample local treats created by some of their favorite restaurants as well as aspiring chefs from Hawai‘i Community College’s own culinary arts program. Student volunteers from both the culinary arts and human services programs were there to assist vendors and Hawai‘i Island Japanese Chamber of Commerce members, making it truly a collaborative event.