Dates Set for the Fourth Annual Mango Festival

Mango mania returns to Kona for the fourth annual Mango Festival with activities on three days.

First up is the Mango Tango Dance and Desserts FUNdraiser July 21 in Kealakekua at the New Thought Center in Pualani Terrace on Hwy. 11. Admission is a $10 donation and fun includes a dramatic show of tango dancing, dessert bar and silent auction from 6:30-9 p.m. For ticket info, phone 887-1292.

Mango Tango proceeds benefit New Thought Center, a sanctuary for the nourishment, development and evolution of each individual’s unique spiritual path, and the free, two-day community Mango Festival.

Geared for mango lovers of all ages, the Mango Festival returns to the Keauhou Beach Resort 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for a full weekend of juicy jive July 28-29. The free festival celebrates Hawaii’s delicious and diverse mango varieties during the peak of the harvest season.

Ken Love of the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers displays varieties of mangos grown in Hawaii.

Ken Love, president of the statewide Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, says this year’s mango season looks good. “Although there have been limited rains, what we had came at the right time,” notes Love. “Diversifying mango crops by variety has helped to increase the overall quantity as flowering takes place at difference times. Overall, growers do a much better job of field sanitation, which has also helped to increase local production.”

Love is part of the event’s agricultural and educational offerings on Saturday. Attendees can also enjoy culinary demonstrations using mango and a mango-themed recipe contest for non-professional chefs.

Arts and crafts, mango-themed desserts and drinks, plus fresh produce will be offered both days. The focus on Sunday’s fun will be entertainment, with a non-stop medley of music and performing arts, including dramatic hula and a Belly Dance Extravaganza on the scenic, palm-fringed grounds of the resort’s Royal Garden.

Both the Mango Tango FUNdraiser and the free community Festival are presented by the non-profit Sanctuary of Mana Ke‘a Gardens. The community is invited to collaborate, support and participate. Exhibitor booths for July 28-29 are available for businesses and non-profit organizations. Volunteers are encouraged to help with festival day activities, speaker support and workshops. For info, contact event organizer Randyl Rupar at 808-334-3340.

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Mangoes and Belly Dancing… The Mango Tango Dance and Desserts FUNdraiser

Media Release:

The sound of classic Argentine tango will fill the air Friday, July 22 at the Mango Tango Dance and Desserts FUNdraiser.

The evening of South American dance and music headlines the band Mango Tango and internationally known dancers Paula and Mariano Bielak to benefit New Thought Center Hawaii and the free community Mango Festival on July 30 in Keauhou.

Paula and Mariano Bielak

Time is 6-9:30 p.m. at New Thought Center in Pualani Terrace on Hwy. 11. Admission is a $10 donation and fun includes a silent auction and dessert. For ticket info, phone 887-1292.

Based in Kona, Mango Tango includes Mary Collier on violin, Greg Shirley on guitar, Heloise Lochman on accordion and Brian McCree on bass. The lively tango “orquesta” will perform selections for tango’s syncopated dancing, suave lifts and drops. Also taking the stage are tango dancers Paula and Mariano Bielak of Buenos Aires.

Event beneficiary New Thought Center Hawaii is a sanctuary for the nourishment, development and evolution of each individual’s unique spiritual path. Newly located at Pualani Terrace, it offers Sunday worship 10 a.m.-noon.

The free annual Mango Festival is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, July 30 at the Keauhou Beach Resort. The all-day, family festival includes fruit tastings, grafting and growing demonstrations, plus a Belly Dance Extravaganza and non-stop entertainment.

Both the Mango Tango FUNdraiser and the Mango Festival are presented by the non-profit Sanctuary of Mana Ke‘a Gardens. For info, contact Randyl Rupar at 808-334-3340.