Favorite flavors, families and fun will converge Saturday at August Ahrens Elementary School for the 11th annual Taste of Waipahu event, staged by the Waipahu Community Association.
TASTE OF WAIPAHU
Where: August Ahrens Elementary
When: 4-10 p.m. Saturday
Cost: Free
Info: wcawaipahu.org/2016-taste-of-waipahu
Of the 35 confirmed vendors, 13 will be serving food, while others will offer products or services for sale.
Food vendor Da Bolalohan is a relatively new endeavor, having started up in February of last year, said Merrill Rillamas. The company’s lunch wagon specializes in bolalo, or beef “feet” soup, made with beef shank and other ingredients.
Set up in its regular spot at the Waipahu Festival Marketplace, the lunch wagon serves its signature dish to customers including “yardmen who ask for the soup in the morning,” he said.
“They say, ‘It gives us energy, it gives us strength,’” said Rillamas, who serves as the company’s event coordinator, prep cook and spokesman for its owners.
Da Bolalohan is active at a host of community events around the island as well as within the thriving food-truck scene in Honolulu, participating in Eat the Street, Honolulu Night Market and Aloha Festivals events.
The two “uncles” who established the business used to have their own restaurant on Maui, but Victor Ancheta and Mel Batangan now serve customers on Oahu.
Because it’s easiest to eat bolalo at a table, and tables will be hard to come by at the the Taste of Waipahu, Da Bolalohan won’t bring its signature soup Saturday, Rillamas said. The booth will offer other popular dishes, including their two top sellers: smoked beef brisket and grilled pork belly.
More goodies for the festival will be available from Erin’s Shave Ice and Cotton Candy Co., the Five O Ribs truck, Frozen Fun Mobile, Mahoe’s Hawaiian Delights, Max’s of Manila, MoeJoe’s Stir Crazy, Ono Kettle Korn, Tea Girls Hawaii, Uncle Lani’s Poi Mochi, the United Visayan Community of Hawaii, Waimanalo Country Farms and Wow Wow Lemonade.
The event also offers rides and games for children, merchandise vendors and live entertainment for all.
Organizers invite everyone to bring blankets and chairs so they can sit and enjoy the entertainment and food.
Attendees can enter to win a round-trip for two to Las Vegas; attendees who bring nonperishable food items to donate will receive additional prize entries. Food items collected will be donated to Waipahu-area pantries.
