Last call for competitors for 2024 Kaua‘i Poke Fest

The fourth annual Kaua‘i Poke Fest, hosted by Kōloa Landing Resort, is announcing its last call for competitors for its poke competition on June 8.

Chef Sheldon Simeon of Lineage and Tiffany’s on Maui will join Kauaʻi brothers Nick and Nate Herbig of the Pittsburgh Steelers as a celebrity judge on the panel of experts that will determine the winner of this year’s festival.

“We started the Kaua‘i Poke Fest as a way to bring our community together to celebrate Hawaiʻi’s iconic dish with the Godfather of Poke, Chef Sam Choy, all while supporting our local organizations,” said Aaron Bambling, general manager of Kōloa Landing Resort. “We are honored to have Chef Sheldon from the Maui community join us for a fun event that supports Maui’s recovery.”

Born in Hilo on the Big Island, Chef Simeon opened restaurants Tin Roof, in Kahului and Lineage, in Wailea, Maui, which was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for “Best New Restaurant” in 2019. In 2022, Simeon took over Tiffany’s in Wailuku, Maui. He has also competed in Seasons 10 and 14 of Bravo’s hit competition cooking show Top Chef where he won “Fan Favorite” in both seasons.

Limited spots are available to those interested in competing in the Kaua‘i Poke Fest. Competitors will be provided poke grade ‘ahi, inclusion in the 2024 Kaua‘i Poke Fest cookbook, the opportunity to meet Chef Sam Choy and much more. Each dish will be voted on by attendees and a panel of judges. The top three rated dishes will receive the following prizes:

• First Place – A $2,000 Visa Gift Card; airfare and hotel accommodations for two to travel to Honolulu and be featured on Sam Choy’s in the Kitchen TV show as a guest chef; two-night stay at Kōloa Landing Resort in a two-bedroom villa; and the winner’s name engraved on the Crystal Poke Bowl trophy, which the winner gets to hold on to until Poke Fest 2025.
  
• Second Place – A $1,000 Visa Gift Card and two-night stay at Koloa Landing Resort in a 2-bedroom villa.
  
• Third Place – A $500 Visa Gift Card.

So far, new and returning professional and amateur chefs for the 2024 competition include Grecean Manuel, the 2023 Kaua‘i Poke Fest Overall Winner, and Taylor Sakimae, owner of Kauai Poke Co. the and 2019 Kaua‘i Poke Fest Overall Winner.

Additional competitors include chefs representing The Beach House, Cabana Bar & Grill, Charbar Co Burgers & Sushi, Da Bald Guy from O‘ahu’s North Shore, Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i, Moa Moa Hawaiian Fish House at Sheraton Kaua‘i Coconut Beach Resort, Nanea Restaurant & Bar at the Westin Princeville, Outrigger Kaua‘i Beach Resort, Pineapple Express Kaua‘i, The Plantation House, Po‘ipū Poke Shack and more.

Early bird tickets are still available for $90 until April 30. General admission tickets are $115 and VIP Tickets are $150. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Hawai‘i Community Foundation – Maui Strong Fund to support the immediate and long-term needs of those displaced by the Maui wildfires. To purchase Kaua‘i Poke Fest tickets, submit an application to compete, room packages, or for more information on the participating judges visit KauaiPokeFest.com.

The Kaua‘i Poke Fest, an annual celebration of Hawai‘i’s most famous dish, began in 2019. The event features a competition between professional and amateur chefs with an original poke recipe, live entertainment, food and drinks, a made in Kaua‘i marketplace and a poke demonstration by James Beard Award-winning Chef Sam Choy. Festival attendees and a panel of celebrity judges will get to sample and vote for their favorite dish, to name Hawai‘i’s Best Poke.