HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – With luxury culinary events hosted over three weekends on multiple islands, the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival is the largest food festival in the state.
It was co-founded by Hawaii chefs Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong in 2011 to showcase the islands’ diverse cuisine and local culinary talent.
Each year, the festival invites more than 150 internationally renowned master chefs, culinary personalities, sommeliers, mixologists, and wine and spirit producers to participate in about 20 events, such as grand tastings and wine dinners, kids cooking classes, wine seminars, and more.
As part of the effort to promote sustainable cooking practices, the festival challenges participating chefs to use at least one locally grown, raised, or caught ingredient in their dish.
A highlight this year is the new FEAST Summit, a professional development conference for leaders and changemakers in food, sustainability, and tourism.
Native Hawaiian Chef Kealoha Domingo of catering company Nui Kealoha joined HNN’s Sunrise to talk about the event on Oct. 31 at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort.
More than 50 speakers will discuss key trends and challenges shaping the future of culinary and hospitality, and attendees can shop the “Kamehameha Schools Presents Food Innovation Marketplace.”
Domingo will speak on the “Heritage Foodways: Preserving Culture Through Agriculture & Cuisine” panel.
“Food is more than sustenance—it’s memory, culture, and identity. Through food, we connect with our ancestors, our land, and our communities,“ he said. ”By honoring Indigenous and local food systems, we’re not just preserving the past—we’re shaping a more resilient and culturally grounded food future for Hawaii.”
Domingo is also one of 10 chefs cooking for the FEAST Summit’s “HMAA Presents Taste Our Love for Hawaii: The Future of Hawaii Regional Cuisine,” a grand tasting lunch showcasing the future of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, while honoring the 12 pioneering chefs who launched the movement.
Some HFWF events are sold out, but tickets are available for these events and can be purchased online:
Oct. 18: Cucina: From Mauka to Makai, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (Hawaii Island), 6 to 9 p.m.
Oct. 26: Southern Seafood Sunday hosted by Aarón Sánchez, Royal Lahaina Resort and Bungalows (Maui), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Oct. 30: Slanted & Phan-tastic: A celebration of Charles Phan, Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach (Oahu), 6 to 9 p.m.
Nov. 1: Hawaiian Airlines Presents Decanted, Hawaii Convention Center (Oahu), 6 to 9 p.m.
Nov. 2: MatCHA Chai Brunch, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa (Oahu), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Nov. 2: Washoku to the World, Halekulani (Oahu), cocktail reception at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m.
Click here to learn more about the festival.
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