Lahainaluna High School cooking students Teani Aipa and Kdin Dias ranked third in the ChefZone People’s Choice Award at the Aloun Farms Mahi'ai Cooking Competition in 2021. Pictured (from the left) are Aipa, Dias, Nicole Crusos from Aloun Farms and Colin Delos Reyes, a culinary art instructor from Lahainaluna.

Lahaina-Aloun Farms recently announced the winners of its Mahi'ai cooking competition, the theme of which is "eat locally, shop locally, live sustainably".

The culinary team of Guylen Shimabukuro and Kapukawai Natividad from Lei Lehua High School won the first place in the competition and the ChefZone People’s Choice Award. Their dishes, crispy Kauai prawns with caramelized Aloun Farm Onion Coconut Soup, smoked Kamote & Greens and Tomato &'Ewa sweet onion salad.

The team needed to use Aloun Farms' "Ewa Sweet Onion" and ChefZone's exclusive brand "Villa Frizzoni" pasta to create unique dishes.

Teams using additional ingredients will receive bonus points, including Kauai shrimp, Maui beef and/or other Aloun Farms seasonal products, including coriander, eggplant, zucchini, long beans, kabocha, green onions, cabbage, Hami​​​ Melon, watermelon, Meyer lemon, mint, Camote leaves, green papaya or honeydew.

The judges rated the dishes based on creativity, origin and choice of ingredients, appearance, flavor characteristics, texture and density, and seasonality.

Eleven teams from nine participating high schools participated in the competition: Lahaina Luna High School, Campbell High School, Farrington High School, Raleigh High School, Moanalua High School, Nanakuli High School, Waipahu High School , Waialua High School and Waianae High School.

This is the first time Maui High School has been able to participate, thanks to Mahi Pono's sponsorship and the switch to virtual competitions this year.

Five teams of two students from Lahainaluna High School competed against each other, from which one team-Teani Aipa and Kdin Dias-was selected to participate in the Mahi'ai cooking competition at Aloun Farms.

Lahainaluna culinary students Aipa and Dias ranked third in the ChefZone People’s Choice Award, which is based on the number of social media favorites for their dishes, Korean Marinated Steak with Khao Yai Shrimp Dumplings and Indonesian-style Noodles.

Thanks to sponsor ChefZone (a division of Y. Hata & Co. Limited) and other sponsors, including Mahi Pono, Meadow Gold, Klaus Family Foundation and Leeward Community College.

To view the recipes for this year's Aloun Farms Mahi'ai cooking competition, please visit alounfarms.com/blogs/recipes.

Located on West Oahu, Aloun Farms also supports future American farmers and school-to-work programs, provides educational farm tours, and organizes community events.

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