SUKA takes center stage at this year’s Filipino Food Week in Hawaii

Sunrise admin October 5, 2026 0 Comments

SUKA takes center stage at this year’s Filipino Food Week in Hawaii

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) — Filipino Food Week returns Oct. 11-18, organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu as a celebration of Filipino cuisine, ingredients and culinary traditions during Filipino American History Month.

Consul General Arman R. Talbo, of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, and Executive Sous Chef Joseph “JJ” Reinhart, of Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, joined HNN’s Sunrise Weekends to talk about what people can expect.

“The importance of it, why we want to celebrate this, and what we’ll see happening this October is also Filipino American History Month, which we are celebrating every year. So, it coincides with Filipino Food Week. And also, this year, we are also celebrating the 120th anniversary of the arrival of Filipino farmers here in Hawaiʻi. And all of these celebrations, they all come under the 80th year of Filipino and American Friendship Day,” Talbo said.

Suka takes center stage

This year’s theme is “SUKA – The Vinegar of the Philippines.” Reinhart, who uses it in his cooking, says it’s deeply woven into Filipino culinary traditions and comes in many varieties, including vinegars made from sugarcane, coconut, nipa palm and fruit.

“It’s used in so many different ways, from dipping sauces and marinades to pickles, soups and well-known dishes like adobo and kinilaw, so it really shows how versatile and important vinegar is in Filipino cuisine,” Reinhart said.

“We have such a strong Filipino community here in Hawaii, so it’s meaningful for Hilton Hawaiian Village to be part of the week and help celebrate the flavors and traditions of Filipino cuisine,” he said.

For Filipino Food Week, Hilton Hawaiian Village created a special three-course menu for $75 that will be served at Rainbow Lanai.

The menu celebrates Filipino flavors while incorporating local ingredients and flavors known in Hawaiʻi, he said. It incorporates the Suka theme throughout with bright and pickled elements, including Kona kampachi, kinilaw ceviche and adobo-inspired components of the entrée.

The menu also includes kiawe-smoked huli-huli leg quarters chicken inasal and an ube haupia cheesecake, he said.

Reinhart has held the executive sous chef role since 2023, overseeing daily culinary operations across the resort’s restaurants, main kitchen and banquet operations, according to his biography. He joined Hilton Hawaiian Village in 2013, serving as chef de cuisine at Bali Oceanfront before being named executive banquet chef in 2018.

Before joining Hilton Hawaiian Village, he held culinary roles at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey; Morimoto Waikiki; and Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar. Prior to his culinary career, he was a professional trumpet player with the Broadway production of “Blast,” performing in New York and London.

Click here for more information on Filipino Food Week.

Click here for a list of Filipino American History events.