1995 Hemp Feast at the Avalon Restaurant in Lahaina, Maui

1995 Hemp Banquet at Avalon Restaurant in Lahaina, Maui in the 1990s put on by Suzi Osborn of Aloha Aina Magazine and Mark Ellman, restauranteur, who has created other restaurants after this, including, Mala’s , Penne Pasta, Maui Tacos- First Hemp Feast in Maui, celebrating the benefits of marijuana in cooking. Before it was legal or even considered, these brave pioneers promoted the benefits of cannabis. Roger Christie, MJ advocate, also came to speak.Bob Long, Poppy Morgan… more.

Summary & transcript

 Maui Hemp Seed Banquet and Hemp Advocacy Event

• [01:11 → 05:50] Introduction and Program Overview
  The video opens with hosts introducing the program “Mama Presents,” produced by the Maui Arts and Music Association (MAMA). They explain the show’s purpose: to highlight the rich cultural and artistic talents of Maui, including music, artists, and community initiatives. The current episode focuses on a recent event, the first annual Maui Hemp Seed Banquet, organized at Avalon Restaurant by Mark Ellman and Susie Osborne. The banquet showcased hemp’s many uses—food, fiber, and building materials—and featured expert guest Roger Christie from the Big Island, a long-time hemp advocate. The hosts encourage viewers to support local musicians, artists, and hemp industry pioneers.
• [11:11 → 14:38] Opening Blessing and Event Setting
  The banquet begins with a blessing by Covington, acknowledging the earth, the healing power of hemp, and honoring those involved in organizing and supporting the event. Special thanks are given to Roger Christie, Susie Osborne (producer and hemp ambassador), Mark Ellman (chef), and the vendors showcasing hemp-related products. The blessing also includes a spiritual component honoring individuals transitioning from life. The atmosphere is one of education, celebration, and community support.
• [14:38 → 19:48] Event Highlights, Introductions, and Giveaway Items
  Mark Ellman introduces the culinary aspect, highlighting the delicious hemp-infused dishes prepared for the banquet. Music by Ricardo, a Spanish classical guitarist who regularly plays in Kihei, accompanies the event. Susie Osborne thanks the many contributors and vendors, mentioning that attendees received gift bags containing hemp products such as wallets, cookbooks, and catalogs donated by David Stunder, a major hemp product supplier. Other donors include Richard Rose from Sharon’s Finest, providing hemp-based cosmetics and fabrics. Susie shares her personal journey with hemp activism dating back to 1992, encouraging attendees to support the local hemp industry and advocates like Roger Christie.
• [25:25 → 26:53] Media Coverage and Event Significance
  Acknowledgment is given to Laurel Murphy for media coverage and Jason Sports for videotaping the event for public access television (Akaku). The event is framed as a milestone—the first hemp seed banquet on Maui, and among the earliest in Hawaii, following a similar event on the Big Island. Susie expresses pride in finally bringing Roger Christie to Maui after several attempts over the past three and a half years.
• [27:35 → 41:19] Keynote by Roger Christie: Hemp Advocacy and Legal Challenges
  Roger Christie delivers a passionate speech covering multiple critical points:
  • Hemp as a sacred and divine plant with thousands of years of human use for food, clothing, shelter, fuel, and medicine in an environmentally sustainable way.
  • The event aims to transform public perception and laws surrounding hemp and marijuana, advocating peace and inclusion rather than division (“us versus them”).
  • The war on marijuana is described as a tragic mistake, with millions arrested and families affected, despite growing scientific evidence supporting hemp’s benefits.
  • Christie recounts his own legal struggles, including ongoing indictments related to hemp seed importation—highlighting the harsh federal enforcement despite the plant’s legality in many other contexts.
  • He emphasizes the importance of community support and activism to ‘get the bandwagon rolling’—noting that while some lawmakers are openly pro-hemp, many are waiting for public pressure to join the cause.
  • Christie references the preamble to Hawaii’s constitution, invoking the right of Hawaiians to control their destiny, nurture their culture, and preserve quality of life, framing hemp legalization as aligned with these principles.
  • He calls on attendees to spread awareness through media, public discussions, and letters to editors to counteract decades of propaganda against hemp.
  • Roger encourages attendees to overcome fear, defining it as “False Evidence Appearing Real,” and to embrace hemp’s proven nutritional and industrial benefits.
  • He distinguishes between hemp seed consumption (nutritional) and marijuana flower use, advocating for responsible and informed use.
  • Christie predicts a hemp renaissance that will positively impact society’s culture and economy.
• [41:19 → 44:35] Health Benefits of Hemp Seed and Societal Context
  Roger reads scientific findings on hemp seed nutrition, highlighting:
  • Hemp seeds are a rich source of globulin starting material, essential for antibody production and immune system strength.
  • The body’s ability to fight illness depends on this nutrient, which hemp seeds uniquely provide in large amounts.
  • He stresses that hemp is not optional but essential for good health, especially during times when public health and nutrition programs are being cut.
  • The event symbolizes hope for a peaceful, abundant future where hemp provides vital nutrition and materials.
  • The call to action is clear: “If not us, who? If not here, where? If not now, when?”
• [44:35 → 46:31] Closing Ceremony and Food Presentation
  The banquet concludes with desserts presented by chef Mark Ellman, including hemp seed-based dishes. Attendees receive free packets of sterilized, legal hemp seeds to take home as a symbolic and practical gesture to promote hemp cultivation and consumption. The hosts encourage sharing these seeds to raise awareness. The program Maui On A magazine, featuring hemp-related content, is distributed to attendees.
• [46:31 → 51:17] Closing Remarks and Participant Feedback
  The video ends with attendees expressing appreciation for the meal and the event’s organization. Plans are mentioned to host future hemp banquets at other venues, signaling ongoing momentum for the hemp movement on Maui.

Key Insights and Themes

• Hemp as a Multifaceted Resource:
  The video emphasizes the versatility of hemp—from food and fiber to building materials—underscoring its environmental sustainability and economic potential.
• Hemp Advocacy and Legal Reform:
  Central to the event is the push for changing restrictive laws around hemp in Hawaii and nationally, supported by scientific evidence and cultural rationale.
• Community and Cultural Empowerment:
  The event highlights the role of community support, local artists, musicians, activists, and entrepreneurs in fostering a hemp renaissance.
• Health and Nutrition Importance:
  Hemp seeds are presented as a superfood critical for immune health, especially relevant in times of declining public health support.
• Overcoming Fear and Misinformation:
  The narrative encourages dismantling fear-based propaganda and replacing it with education and positive personal experiences.
• Connection to Hawaiian Identity and Sovereignty:
  The constitutional right to nurture culture and control destiny is linked to hemp legalization efforts.

Timeline Table of Event Highlights

Table: Hemp Seed Nutritional and Cultural Benefits (as presented)

Conclusion

This video documents a landmark event in Maui’s hemp advocacy movement, combining cultural celebration, education, and activism. The first annual Maui Hemp Seed Banquet serves as a platform to showcase hemp’s vast benefits, from nutrition to economic development, while addressing legal challenges and misinformation. Through speeches, blessings, music, and shared meals, the event fosters community empowerment and calls for a peaceful transformation of hemp’s role in society. It also underscores the importance of local support to realize a sustainable and abundant future infused with hemp’s promise.

This comprehensive coverage reflects a dedicated grassroots effort to revive hemp’s rightful place in Hawaiian life and beyond.

Transcript

05:19

you okay and uh and support them you bet come out and see them we hope that if you see musicians here and talented groups that you’ll come and support them same with the artists and all the good ideas and the people that we have on the show yeah these people really need our local support that’s one of the reasons that we’re bringing this to you so that you can get in touch with all that maui has to offer and take advantage of it that’s why we call it mama presents these are the people of maui and the