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, 2025Mauna Kea Golf Course
- Cucina: From Mauka to MakaiSaturday, October 18, 2025Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Maui
- First Hawaiian Bank Presents 27th Annual Roy Yamaguchi Golf ClassicFriday, October 24, 2025Kāʻanapali Golf Course
- World of Wagyu, Wine & WhiskeySaturday, October 25, 2025 | 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
- Southern Seafood Sunday Hosted by Aarón SánchezSunday, October 26, 2025 | 11:00 A.M.– 1:00 P.M.Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows
O’ahu
- Slanted & Phan-tastic: A Celebration of Charles PhanThursday, October 30, 2025 | 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.‘Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach
- FEAST SummitFriday, October 31, 2025 | 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.Sheraton Waikīkī Beach ResortTickets to go on sale in June
- Hawaiian Airlines Presents DecantedSaturday, November 1, 2025 | 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.Hawai‘i Convention Center
- Matcha Chai BrunchSunday, November 2, 2025 | 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa
- Washoku to the WorldSunday, November 2, 2025 | 5:00 – 9:00 P.MHalekūlani
Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
