🚧 Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival announces line-up of events

The annual Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival is set to return for a 15th event this year with a theme of “FEAST,” which stands for Food, Education, Agriculture, Sustainability and Tourism, according to organizers of the event, who shared the news at a launch event on Wednesday, May 14.

Tickets are now on sale for festival events from Oct. 17 through Nov. 2, which span three islands: Hawaiʻi Island, Maui and Oʻahu.

“What started as a three-day culinary event in Waikīkī in 2011 has grown into a statewide movement that celebrates our chefs, supports our farmers, uplifts Hawai‘i’s food systems and has helped establish Hawai‘i’s reputation as a leading culinary destination,” said Denise Yamaguchi, the chief executive officer of the festival, in a written statement.

Co-founded by Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong, James Beard Award-winning chefs and leaders of the Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine movement, the festival has grown significantly over the years.

In 2024, the festival, which is a program of the nonprofit Hawaiʻi Ag & Culinary Alliance, included more than 100 world-renowned chefs and culinary leaders. To date, it has raised $5 million to support local community and ʻāina-based organizations commited to agricultural and culinary education, according to its representatives.

This year, the festival will have 23 new chefs, including Leah Cohen, Johnny Courtney, Masa Gushiken, Alex Kim, Nini Nguyen, Dominica Rice-Cisneros and Aarón Sánchez, as well as veteran chefs for the festival including Chris Cosentino, Dean Fearing, Brandon Jew, Andrew Le, Robynne Mai‘i, Spike Mendelsohn, Michael Meredith, Masaharu Morimoto, Shota Nakajima, Jason Peel, Sheldon Simeon and Nancy Silverton.

As part of festival activities, Alan Wong will host his first annual Cuisines of the Sun Golf Classic on Friday, Oct. 17, at Mauna Kea Golf Course on Hawaiʻi Island. Other festival events include the 27th annual Roy Yamaguchi Golf Classic on Friday, Oct. 24, at Kāʻanapali Golf Course on Maui.

A few new events include “World of Wagyu, Wine & Whiskey,” which takes place on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, as well as the Matcha Chai Brunch, which will include tea-inspired cocktails and a selection of teas guided by a tea sommelier on Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa.

Here is the full list of events:

Hawaiʻi Island

First Annual Cuisines of the Sun Golf Classic Hosted by Alan Wong: Friday, October 17, 2025; Mauna Kea Golf Course
Cucina: From Mauka to Makai: Saturday, October 18, 2025; Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Maui

First Hawaiian Bank Presents 27th Annual Roy Yamaguchi Golf Classic: Friday, October 24, 2025; Kāʻanapali Golf Course
World of Wagyu, Wine & Whiskey: Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.; Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Southern Seafood Sunday Hosted by Aarón Sánchez: Sunday, October 26, 2025 | 11:00 A.M.– 1:00 P.M.; Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows

O’ahu

Slanted & Phan-tastic: A Celebration of Charles Phan: Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.; ‘Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach
FEAST Summit: Friday, October 31, 2025 | 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.; Sheraton Waikīkī Beach Resort; Tickets to go on sale in June
Hawaiian Airlines Presents Decanted: Saturday, November 1, 2025 | 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.; Hawai‘i Convention Center
Matcha Chai Brunch: Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.; Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa
Washoku to the World: Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 5:00 – 9:00 P.M; Halekūlani

Details.

Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.