Shaun Ono's father showed up at Shaun's workplace with a container of potato salad.

It was an attempt to re-create a beloved family recipe Ono thought had been lost when his mother died this year. What really surprised Ono was that his father had been in the kitchen. "He never really cooked. First time, I think."

The potato salad was the dish his mother always made for potluck parties. "Party after party and year after year she would make this potato salad," Ono said. That his father would brave the kitchen to try to figure out the recipe meant the world to him. "It was really special," Ono said.

Now, Ono's mother's potato salad is being featured in the buffet at the new Kai Market restaurant at Sheraton Waikiki. When the farm-to-table restaurant opened in August, Sheraton employees were invited to enter family recipes in a monthly contest. Ono, general manager at Twist on the 30th floor, thought of the potato salad. Kelly Zane, Sheraton banquet manager, entered vinha d'alhos, Portuguese vinegar pork, which, when done properly, takes two days to make. "My aunty says to use apple cider vinegar," he said, unafraid to share family secrets.

"Kelly's family, they'll share everything!" Ono said, laughing. "You can go to their house and they'll teach you to make it, but you gotta' stay for 2 days."

The dinner buffet at Kai Market is inspired by old-style local potluck parties, where someone brings kal-bi, someone brings sushi, there's Hawaiian and Chinese food and a beautiful platter of pancit.

"It's about digging back into our roots and really thinking about what foods were special at holidays or family gatherings," said Kimi Kaneda, outlet manager at the restaurant.

Truth be told, Ono's mother's potato salad recipe is pretty simple. Lenis Ono was born and raised in Hawaii, but lived in Japan after getting married and made the dish for Hawaii ex-pats living in a country almost devoid of potato salad. It was a connection to home, and now it is a connection to her.

The recipe contest is being opened to the public. The grand prize is a doozy-dinner for 10 at the restaurant and a weekend stay at the Sheraton's presidential suite. Winning recipes will also be featured in the Kai Market buffet.

Recipes and the family stories behind them can be mailed to: Kai Market recipe contest, 225 Kaläkaua Ave., Honolulu HI 96815 or e-mail to laurie.kaeo@sheraton.com.