I enjoyed an afternoon of wine and friendship while supporting the Akaka Falls Lions Club. The attendees gained insights from three Master Sommeliers. You could hear the passion from all three of the sommeliers as they shared their opinions on the wine we tasted and how to best enjoy it. Andy Myers the Wine Director at Kohanaiki was so friendly and easy to talk to. He worked in restaurants since he was 14 years old. I’m hopeful to see Andy at Kohanaiki one day soon. Dave Yoshida who now lives on Oahu started his wine journey when he was in graduate school. He used to teach wine classes at Yale’s student pub. He must have some fun stories of his time on the East Coast. You may have heard of our third MS Roberto Viernes since he wrote Vino Sense, a weekly column in MidWeek magazine for 10 years. How lucky are we to have these three MS in one place answering all our questions and guiding us on our own wine journeys.

In addition to wine and yummy food, there was also a silent auction where we bid on things from bags, plates, vases, and even work boots. I lost the bid on all my silent auction tries but I did win a set of each of the wines we tasted during the live auction. You can find these wines at Kadota Liquor in Hilo. Just ask for Ryan! (Wine list: Robus Vin Gris, Senses Chardonnay, Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, Lopez Heredia Rioja Bosconia, Occidental Pinot Noir, La Cana Albarino) I was glad to support the Akaka Falls Lions Club support our community through a variety of projects and fundraisers. This club was chartered in 1963 and is still a strong and active club.

The best part of this event was seeing many pals including Dr. Garson, my former diving coach and high school principal, former students, current and former coworkers, and friends. I hope you consider joining the Lions or supporting one of their many projects soon. Living Hilo Style.