The Big Island's Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai'i at Keahole Point will serve as the backdrop for a fundraiser Friday where participants will have a chance to taste locally produced products from farm-raised seafood to deep-sea water vodka.

The culinary event, "New Waves at NELHA," will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Hawai'i Gateway Energy Center facility at the NELHA campus. It will feature aquafarm tours, cooking demonstrations and a luncheon featuring a variety of aquaculture products grown at the NELHA facility.

Guests also will have the chance to taste the deep-sea water bottled at NELHA as well as martinis made using deep-sea water vodka produced on Maui. Special wines, beers, sake and 100 percent Kona coffee also will be available for tasting.

The fundraiser kicks off the 37th annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, which runs from Friday through Nov. 11. Entertainment at the New Waves luncheon will be provided by Na Hoku award-winning slack-key guitarist John Keawe.

This is a fundraiser for the Culinary Arts program at the Hawai'i Community College in West Hawai'i, and students in the program will prepare food at the event. Proceeds also will be used to support efforts to promote local food sustainability and use of renewable energy resources by the event's sponsor, the Friends of NELHA.

Aquafarm tours begin at 10 a.m. and the luncheon gets under way at noon. Tickets are $100 and reservations are required. For more information, call (808) 329-7803.

NELHA is home to abut 30 enterprises that generate about $30 million to $40 million per year in total economic impact, including tax revenues, more than 200 jobs, construction activity and high-value product exports.

Two pipeline systems pump deep- and surface sea water to shore and a third, the world's deepest (3,000 feet), is being developed.