FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 20, 2004

            Brunch on the Beach returns to Waikiki this Sunday, April 25, 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.  The popular monthly event transforms Kalakaua Avenue in front of the Hyatt Regency into an old Hawaiian café with free entertainment by Hawai`i’s finest artists.  Brunch is also a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to enjoy more than 40 signature appetizers, entrées, desserts and specialty beverages from Waikiki’s finest chefs at low prices available only at Brunch on the Beach. 

 Food

            For $3, guests may order Waffles with Sugared Strawberries served with whipped cream, Tahitian banana butter and maple syrup from Executive Chef Fred De’Angelo of Tiki’s Grill and Bar.

            For $4, a Double Onion Steak Sandwich served open face on Herb Focaccia Bread with Rosemary Garlic Steak Fries or Grilled Island Pork with Okinawan Sweet Potatoes will be available at Executive Chef Chip Hawkins’ food station (Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki).

             For $5, guests may select from a variety of breakfast items and entrées including the Hawaiian Sweetbread French Toast Sticks from Duke’s Waikiki, Sushi Plate from Royal Yakiniku, Local Plate from Seafood Village.  In addition, for $5, the chefs at Tiki’s Grill and Bar will be tossing Portuguese Sausage or Bay Shrimp Frittata (Italian omelets), and Executive Chef Rene Caba will be grilling Coconut-Macadamia Nut and Thai Chicken Satay at The Hau Tree Lanai food station.

 This month, Executive Chef Göran Streng returns to Brunch with his very popular Crab Hash Benedict on Brioche with Lobster Sauce, Poached Egg, and Home Fried Potatoes ($6).  He will also offer Cappuccino or Strawberry Smoothies ($3).

Golden Chopstick Award

            Brunch chefs have joined the City’s sustainability program by featuring menu items made with locally grown products.  Since January 2004, they have featured pineapple, coconut and macadamia nuts.   This month, it’s island pork and apple bananas.  These are some of the entrées that will vie for this month’s award:  BBQ Island Pork Plate (Royal Yakiniku), Honey Garlic  Ribs Plate (Seafood Village), French Toast with Sliced Apple Bananas or Pork Tonkatsu (with rice and macaroni salad, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa), Roast Island

             Pork (served on fried rice, with fried egg and gravy Hawaii Prince), Hawaiian Made Purity Portuguese Sausage and Scrambled Egg Plate (served with garlic roasted potatoes and steamed ride, Duke’s Waikiki), Grilled Island Pork (served with apple Banana Chutney and Okinawan Sweet Potatoes, Renaissance Ilikai),  Ilikai Breakfast Plate (macadamia banana stuffed crispy french toast with lilikoi sauce, Renaissance Ilikai), or Asian Pork Tocino Sunset Lanai (skewered BBQ pork served with jasmine rice and green papaya salad, The Hau Tree Lanai).

             Desserts showcasing apple bananas will include:  Apple Banana Cream Filled Malasadas (Hawaii Prince), Banana Tower (Chocolate Cake with Banana Truffle Filling Topped with Whipped Cream and Fried Banana Chips, Tiki’s Grill and Bar), and Apple Banana Macadamia Nut-Azuki Bean Lumpia (with Tapioca and Crystallized Ginger Coconu Cream, Pacific Beach Hotel.

             Mayor Jeremy Harris will present the Golden Chopstick Award at 12:15 p.m.

 Entertainment

The Royal Hawaiian Band Glee Club with nostalgic “Hawaii Calls” songs and other Hawaiian melodies will kick-off the entertainment at 9:00 a.m., followed a hula presentation by Merrie Monarch winners Hâlau Môhala `Ilima, under the direction of Kumu Hula Mapuana DeSilva.  Kahua, 3 talented young men dedicated to traditional Hawaiian music, will follow.  Headlining this month’s brunch will be Nâ Hôkû Hanohano award winner and music icon, Amy Hânaiali`i Gilliom.  

Special Brunch “Holoholo Parking”

             Brunch on April 25 features parking at special rates arranged by the Waikiki Improvement Association.  When the sign with the pink “P” and lavender lei are posted at these parking garages, these rates will be available:

$1.00 all day ..............................................................Waikiki Trade Center

$1.00/hour, 5-hour maximum.................................................................. Ohana Reef Towers,

Ohana Maile Sky Court, Radisson Waikiki Prince Kuhio, Ohana Waikiki Village, Ohana East, King Kalakaua Plaza, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, Radisson Waikiki Prince Kuhio

            Sponsored by the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Tourism Authority, and Waikiki Improvement Association, future Brunches dates are May 16, and June 20, 2004.  Brunch dates for the City’s new fiscal year will be announced shortly. 

 For information call the City and County of Honolulu at (808) 523-CITY (2489) or the Waikiki Improvement Association at (808) 923-1094.

# # #