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Did This: 8th annual Taste of Marukai

By Catherine Toth Fox • April 11, 2013 • Food

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There’s really nothing like it.

The annual Taste of Marukai is the culinary event of the season, with dozens of gourmet small plates, sake and shochu spread over the spacious Marukai Wholesale Mart in Dillingham.

The event benefits the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Hawaii United Okinawa Association.

While there were entertainment and prize giveaways, the highlight — and the reason people pay $85 per ticket — was the food. There were Alaska crab legs, fresh sashimi, sushi, soba, grilled Kona Coast abalone and tempura. And, of course, there were tasting stations offering a wide variety of sake, shochu and beer.

No wonder hundreds of people flock to this event every year!

Here’s what the event looked like:

Marukai Wholesale Mart

Marukai Wholesale Mart
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The 8th annual Taste of Marukai draws hundreds of hungry people every year. It's hosted by Marukai Wholesale Mart in Dillingham and supports four cultural nonprofits in Honolulu.

Cherry Blossom FestivalDid ThisFoodfundraiserHawaiiHawaii United Okinawa AssociationHonolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce. Honolulu Japanese Chamber of CommerceJapanese Cultural CenterMarukaiRussell SiuTaste of Marukai
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About the Author

Catherine Toth Fox

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9 Comments

  • Reply David Jackson April 12, 2013 at 2:17 am

    $85 entry fee seems a bit steep but frankly I can eat that much sashimi in fairly short order. Always wanted to go to one of those events but never got to it. How come you don’t take a 720p camera with you for these Cat Chat tings?

    • Reply Catherine Toth April 12, 2013 at 8:10 am

      It’s pricey, but at least it’s going to a good cause!

  • Reply M April 12, 2013 at 6:49 am

    Hello Cat, I would like to attend this event but $85.00 is out of my budget.

    • Reply Catherine Toth April 12, 2013 at 8:10 am

      It’s out of mine, too! Good thing I had a media pass! LOL

      • Reply M April 12, 2013 at 8:36 am

        Job benefits!

  • Reply rayboyjr April 12, 2013 at 9:20 am

    Hey Cat … I let my Marukai membership expire … so I haven’t been there in a while … but I never heard of Taste of Marukai … haha … probably that I don’t pay attention … is it open to anyone to attend??? …

    … btw, which one of the girls was the Cherry Blossom Queen??? … I can’t tell, they’re all wearing the same thing … and the tiara’s look the same …

  • Reply DF April 12, 2013 at 9:33 am

    I think $85 is a bargain for all of that tasting. Are you kidding me? Look at how much you get to eat and drink! I just wish they had that at the Marukai markets on the Mainland. Does anyone know where did Marukai go first, the mainland or Hawaii? Thanks Catherine for the great pics!

  • Reply Kenneth April 14, 2013 at 5:49 pm

    Does anyone else think the Cherry Blossom princess on the left and Cat look alike?

    • Reply Catherine Toth April 14, 2013 at 11:13 pm

      You mean, in the main photo? I wish! These girls are so adorable — and young!

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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