A week-long celebration of ulu (breadfruit) kicks off in Kailua-Kona, good news for Hawaii's local farmers and for people looking for a cheaper, healthier homegrown food.

• The week opens with a free ulu festival, followed by the Breadfruit Summit, drawing people from across Oceania, and an Ulu Culinary Showcase featuring Sam Choy and other local chefs.
• Ulu is one of Hawaii's original canoe crops and is now taking off as more people discover how to cook with it.
• Chef and dietitian Maury Wills showed dishes like ulu mac and cheese and gluten-free ulu fried chicken, using the fruit as a thickener or flour instead of a roux, which cuts saturated fat.
• Ripe ulu works like a banana and mature ulu like a potato, so it fits into almost any recipe.
• Ulu is cheaper than imported potatoes and is grown by many local farmers, with the Hawaii Ulu Co-op supporting the effort.

Outlook: Expect ulu to keep showing up on more restaurant menus across Hawaii as farmers and chefs push it as a local, affordable staple.