Raw Food Fest on Hawaii Island

A four-day celebration of raw food and wellness begins on Thursday on the Big Island. The "Rainbow Raw Games" will fill the Kalani Oceanside Retreat in Pahoa with family-friendly activities and presentations focused on raw food living, spiritual growth, and personal empowerment.

The event caught my eye, as my coworker Beth "Bunny" Berry has become a raw food evangelist. She hasn't gotten me raw, but I'm certainly eating better since her "100 Day Raw Food Challenge" series begain!

At the Raw Food Games, sports and friendly competition will be a central theme, and events include a surf contest, triathalon, races, and a raw-food "prep off" (since it's not quite cooking). And a number of experts and athletes from the raw food and vegan community will speak and answer questions.

They include: David Wolfe (raw food expert), Lillian Muller (Playboy Playmate turned motivational speaker), Greg Cipes (actor and musician), Aajonus Vonderplanitz (nutritionist and author), Laura Fox (of the Raw Spirit Show), Tonya Kay (dancer and fire spinner), Robert Cheeke (vegan bodybuilder), Frank Giglio (raw vegan runner), Joseph Jacques (C.A.S.T.), Nick Goode (Success Ultra Now), and Hawaii's own Kieba Om (BodyTemple Boot Camp).

Rainbow Raw Games organizers say there will be traditional Hawaiian touches, including a "Makahiki Festival," luau, and Hawaiian crafts. As a non-profit, they add, proceeds from the games will go to Halau Hula Ka Makani Hali Ala O Puna of Nanawale and Native Puna District Charter School.