Get 'em now!
Ticket sales began Aug. 1 for Hawaiian Airlines Presents the 32nd Annual Made in Hawai‘i Festival.
This year, the largest-ever MIHF — set for Aug. 20 to 23 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center — will span more than 300,000 square feet across two floors and showcase more than 800 local artisans, makers and entrepreneurs.
The festival will exclusively feature nearly 150 new vendors from across the Islands launching new products, an Aug. 1 announcement noted.
As previously reported, the days and times of the festival have changed from past years due to construction at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. For the first time, MIHF will expand to include two exclusive shopping nights before the general admission weekend.
Thursday, Aug. 20, 6:30 to 10 p.m. VIP Access Night presented by Huaka‘i by Hawaiian. Tickets are $25.
This night offers buyers, sponsors, VIPs and a limited number of public VIP ticket holders premium early access, the announcement notes.
Here's what else you'll find Thursday:
7 p.m. — Chef demonstration with Chef Sean Congdon (Aloha Culinary Group) on the Main Stage.
7:30 p.m. — Talk Story with Kilo Summit, Storytelling Through Authenticity featuring Poi Dawg, CNR Boy, Holden's Bootleg Emporium and Ho‘ola‘i on the third floor concourse.
8 p.m. — Ei Nei takes the Main Stage
8:30 p.m. — Brother Noland will entertain on the third floor concourse.
MIHF spokesperson Olena Heu told Aloha State Daily in an email Monday morning that tickets for Thursday were already close to selling out.
Friday, Aug. 21, 6:30 to 10 p.m. Preview night. Tickets are $20.
Here's what you'll find Friday:
6:30 p.m. — Brother Noland will entertain on the Third Floor Concourse.
7 p.m. — Chef Demonstration with Chef Jeremy Choo (King's Hawaiian) on the Main Stage.
7:30 p.m. — Talk Story with Kilo Summit, The Kilo Summit Vision featuring the Kilo Summit founders, on the Third Floor Concourse.
8 p.m. — Talk Story with Kilo Summit, Design as Identity featuring Sig Zane, FITTED and Kealopiko on the third floor concourse; Kalaʻe Camarillo and Anthony Pfluke take to the Main Stage.
9 p.m. – Live Music with Kilo Summit on the third floor concourse.
Saturday, Aug. 22, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. General admission. Tickets are $9.
Here's what's on the schedule for Saturday:
9 a.m. — Talk Story with Kilo Summit, Origin Story featuring Kimi Werner, on the third floor concourse.
10 a.m. — Chef Demonstration with Chef Steve Balantac (Hula Grill) on the Main Stage; Talk Story with Kilo Summit, Surf, Skate & Street featuring Chris Miyashiro, Bryce Baker, Fiber Workshop, Kekoa Cazimero and Brockton Komada, on the third floor concourse.
11 a.m. — Chef Demonstration with Hawaiian Airlines Executive Chef Dell Valdez (Vein at Kakaʻako) on the Main Stage; demonstration with Kaimanu Composites, Custom Canoe Shaping on the third floor concourse.
Noon — Chef Demonstration with Foodland Featured Chef Keoni Chang on the Main Stage; Talk Story with Kilo Summit, What It Means to Be Made in Hawaiʻi featuring Kū Project, Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi, Hana Pua and Sing Cheong Bakery, on the third floor concourse.
1 p.m. — Chef Demonstration with Mahi Pono Featured Chef Vikram Garg (UMI and Masala Maya) on the Main Stage; Talk Story with Kilo Summit, The Collaborative Formula featuring Honolulu Pawn Shop, Kicks HI and Zen on the third floor concourse.
2 p.m. — Kani Ka Pila Grille Talent Search on the Main Stage.
3 p.m. — Jazlyn Noelani takes the Main Stage.
4 p.m. — Talk Story with Kilo Summit, FITTED: Born Here, Built Here featuring Keola and Rene, on the third floor concourse.
5 p.m. — Talk Story with Kilo Summit, Wahine Who Build featuring FOR, Ho‘ola‘i, Hanja Designs, Kimi Werner, Punky Aloha and Alikaleo Park on the third floor concourse.
6 p.m. — Fashion Show, Ki-Ele on the Main Stage; Talk Story with Kilo Summit, Stories Through Art featuring Aaron Kai, Corey Taum, Kamea Hadar, Koloikeau Anthony, Bryce Baker and Chris Miyashiro, on the third floor concourse.
7 p.m. — Bobby Moderow Jr. & Kawika Kahiapo take the Main Stage; demonstration with Hawaiʻi Sports Museum: Custom Jersey Making on the third floor concourse.
8 p.m. — Jerry Santos and Kamuela Kimokeo take the Main Stage; live music from Kilo Summit on the third floor concourse.
9 p.m. Live music from Kilo Summit on the third floor concourse.
Sunday, Aug. 23, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. General admission. Tickets are $8.
8 a.m. — Live Music with Kilo Summit on the third floor concourse.
9 a.m. — Talk Story with Kilo Summit, Origin Story featuring Sig Zane and Kuhao Zane on the third floor concourse.
10 a.m. — Chef Demonstration with Featured Chef Pierre Daguzan, Daguzan Charcuterie (sponsored by DBEDT) on the Main Stage; Talk Story with Kilo Summit; Wellness featuring Poʻai by Pono Potions and the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response Team on the third floor concourse.
11 a.m. — Chef Demonstration with Hawaiian Airlines featured chef Sheldon Simeon (Tiffany's Restaurant & Bar and Tin Roof Maui) on the Main Stage; Talk Story with Kilo Summit, Music Industry of Hawaiʻi featuring China Town Social Club, Trust Me Island Wide, Alx Kawakami and Kimo Kennedy on the third floor concourse.
Noon — Chef Demonstration with Chef Rob Abad (Aliʻi Fish Market) on the Main Stage; Demonstration, Form and Function with Neil Kamimura on the third floor concourse; Trust Me Brunch (Trust Me Island Wide), also will entertain on the third floor concourse.
1 p.m. — Talk Story with Kilo Summit, Taste of Kilo featuring Sheldon Simeon, Kimi Werner, Neil Kamimura and Neale Asato on the third floor concourse; Fashion Show, Lex Breezy and Simply Sisters on the Main Stage.
1:45 p.m. — HFIA, Servco, Hawaii FoodBank and The FoodBasket check presentation on the Main Stage.
2 p.m. — Talk Story with Kilo Summit, Hawaiʻi in the World featuring Honolulu Pawn Shop and in4mation on the third floor concourse; Kupaoa on the Main Stage.
3 p.m. — Mark Yamanaka takes to the Main Stage; Live Music by Kilo Summit on the third floor concourse.
4 p.m. — Malie Lyman on the Main Stage).
Afraid to miss out? Never fear — festival spokesperson Olena Heu says you can shop all four days, and all 800-plus vendor booths will be open on all days of the festival.
You can buy tickets at madeinhawaiifestival.com. Find the brochure with maps and more information here.
In addition to other changes this year (ICYMI: you can learn more about those here), expanded parking and transportation options will be available on Saturday, Aug. 22, and Sunday, Aug. 23, with paid parking available at two off-site locations along with round-trip shuttle service, the festival previously announced.
Kaimukī High School will have 600-plus parking stalls available for $5, payable onsite with cash only, while the Stan Sheriff Center will have more than 3,000 parking stalls for $10, payable onsite with card only.
The round-trip shuttle service, provided by Roberts Hawai‘i, is $6 and available from both parking locations. You can grab a shuttle ticket on the festival website starting Aug. 1. Those who do so will receive a "Priority Pass," a July announcement noted, which grants access to a designated festival entrance "designed to provide a more streamlined arrival experience."
MIHF is produced by the Hawai‘i Food Industry Association, or HFIA.
“For more than 30 years, the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival has served as the state’s premier showcase for locally made products, connecting thousands of residents and visitors with Hawaiʻi’s most innovative producers, artisans, and food and beverage companies,” the festival website notes. “What began as a platform to support local businesses has evolved into one of Hawaiʻi’s most anticipated annual events and a critical economic driver for hundreds of companies statewide.”
A record-breaking MIHF drew approximately 70,000 attendees and generated approximately $10 million in sales in 2024. The festival saw about 70,000 visitors over three days last year and vendors reported sales just under $10 million, Heu previously told ASD.
ASD attended the festival last year and caught up with a handful of the small business owners who set up shop. Read that write-up here.
Aloha State Daily is an ‘Ohana Sponsor for the Made in Hawai‘i Festival. Stop by our booth to say “aloha,” play some games, win prizes and learn more about the work we do. You'll find us at booth S-3009, located in the same row as the Mahi Pono entrance.
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
