MEDIA RELEASE

Mango season hails the arrival of summer and the exotic, luscious fruit is celebrated Saturday, July 31 at the Hawaii Healing Garden Mango Festival. The 10 a.m.-5 p.m. free event is held on the scenic, palm-fringed Garden Lawn of the Keauhou Beach Resort.

The all-day family fun festival showcases Hawaii’s delicious and diverse mangos, and attendees will be able to peel, cut or bite their way into more than 20 varieties of the most widely produced and consumed fruit in the world.

Presented by HawaiiHealth Guide.com and The Sanctuary of Mana Ke‘a Gardens, the Mango Festival celebrates all things mango with a day filled with mango-themed activities, presentations, food and fun of two stages.

Event organizer Randyl Rupar said the festival opens with a pule and stories of Keauhou by Kumu Hula Keala Ching and Hawaiian dance by Ka Pa Hula Na Wai Iwi Ola.

The non-stop entertainment lineup continues with Kahikina Nahenahe ukulele group accompanied by hula; Aunty Tutu’s Lindsey Ohana & Friends, Bernice and Manuel Roberto on soothing flute and harp; an eco-fashion show starring apparel and accessories from Divine Goods, Mango Songs by Stuheart, musical stylings by Jan Orbom and Bolo Mikiela Rodrigues on his trademark “ukeitar.”

The presentation stage offers educational demonstrations and talk story with local experts on growing and using mango.

Ken Love, executive director of the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, will share mango varieties and research while CTHAR’s Ty McDonald will discuss mango grafting. Chef Hector Wong of myyellowkitchen.com will do a culinary presentation and Smita Patel will discuss how to preserve mango for year-round use as chutney and jams.

David Bruce Leonard LAc will discuss healing plants of Hawaii.

In addition, the festival offers a Green Healthy Living outdoor expo featuring natural products, medicinal plants, arts and crafts, massage, health and wellness practitioners, keiki activities, plus mango tasting, healthy foods and organic farm produce. A silent auction benefits future Hawaii Healing Garden festivals.

With room rates ready for picking, mango lovers are invited to explore Keauhou Beach Resort and take advantage of its ripe kamaaina offer starting at just $109 per night, complete with complimentary breakfast buffet. For reservations or information, phone 808-324-2515.

The annual mango celebration is a zero waste event and presented by Hawaii Health Guide and the non-profit Sanctuary of Mana Ke‘a Gardens with support from the Keauhou Beach Resort and the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Donations are facilitated via the local non-profit The Forward Foundation 501(c)3.

The event joins the statewide series of Hawaii Healing Garden Festivals, which offers an educational opportunity for the community to gather with cultural health practitioners, educators, botanical experts, chefs, nutritionists, gardeners, farmers, agriculture and sustainability experts, health-oriented businesses and nonprofit organizations to showcase Hawaii’s growing healthy, green services and cultural resources.

Event schedule and volunteer information is available on-line at www.HawaiiHealingGarden.com or by calling 808-638-0888 on Oahu, or the Sanctuary of Mana Kea Gardens in Kona at 808-936-5233.