Value-Added Hands On | Taʻape

Описание: Join us for this special episode of Value-Added Hands-On at the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center, part of the Eat Your Invasive Species workshop series. In this hands-on culinary and education session, guests learn how to clean, prepare, and cook taʻape (bluestripe snapper) — an invasive reef fish that is now being reintroduced to local plates as a sustainable food source.

Featuring Ashley Watts, owner-operator of Local ʻIa , this workshop explores how short supply chains, fair fisherman wages, and underutilized species can strengthen Hawaiʻi’s local food system. Ashley is joined by Kawai Hong, who assists with the hands-on portion and demonstrates how to prepare a simple and delicious smoked taʻape dip.

Together, they walk participants through the ecological story of taʻape, why it was introduced in the 1950s, how it impacts reef ecosystems today, and how eating it can support reef restoration.

Through live demonstrations, guests learn how to scale, clean, score, and steam whole fish — both Chinese-style and Western-style — and enjoy a family-style meal featuring locally grown crops and value-added products from the center’s kitchen incubator program.
The session shows how invasive species can be transformed into delicious, value-added food products for home cooks and entrepreneurs alike.

📍 Learn more about the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center and future workshops:
👉 https://www.leeward.hawaii.edu/wvapdc/

🔔 Be part of Hawaiʻi’s growing network of food innovators. Experience hands-on workshops that blend sustainability, culture, and culinary creativity.

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