Special dinners to benefit Punana Leo O Maui, skate park

Sheldon Simeon (left) will cook with Mark Ellman.
LAHAINA – Chef Mark and Judy Ellman will present two benefit dinners featuring Chef Sheldon Simeon.
The event on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Mala Ocean Tavern will support Punana Leo O Maui, and the dinner on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at Honu Seafood & Pizza will benefit Punana Leo and the West Maui Skate Park.
The dinners will feature a four-course prix-fixe menu for $110 per person. Call Mala at 667-9394 or Honu at 667-9390 for reservations.
The special dinners created and cooked by Chef Simeon are part of an ongoing practice to give back to the community of Maui, Mark said.
“Since 1998, my wife Judy and I have been giving when we can to Punana Leo o Maui, a Hawaiian language immersion school that starts in preschool. A percentage of the ‘Practice Aloha’ book sales have been given to support this very important school,” he explained.
“And this year, we are turning towards our backyard. Judy and I are not skaters, or surfers, but we drive by the Lahaina skate park almost every day… it is thrilling to see kids there having a safe haven to polish their skills.”
The couple recently donated a water fountain for the park, and they have been working with Zeke Kalua in the Mayor’s Office to pursue more improvements.
These benefit dinners will pair rising star Simeon and Mark, a pioneer in Hawaii Regional Cuisine.
“Having Chef Sheldon excites me, to work side-by-side with him. The ‘New Guard’ has arrived,” Mark concluded.