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Hawaii Food Festivals

Hawaii Food Festivals – Generous Servings of Warm Aloha Spirit

Serving local cuisine at Hawaii food festival
The people of Hawaii love to eat, and what better time then at a party?

Food festivals in Hawaii range from Hawaiian Regional Cuisine and wine tasting to a Kona Coffee Cultural Festival that takes place on the Big Island. Top chefs around the state aim to please which makes food festivals popular with locals and tourists alike.

Oahu

The largest festival used to happen each June on the island of Oahu. Unfortunately, after 15 years, the  Taste of Honolulu has closed. This was a three-day event that showcased food samplings from more than 25 of the island’s top restaurants. In addition to the great food, there was live musical entertainment, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, a beer garden, and family exhibits. There was a nominal admission charge, and food was sold by scrip. We hope the Taste of Honolulu comes back.

Maui

A similar benefit takes place on Maui each September. A Taste of Lahaina, a two-day event at Lahaina Recreation Park, offers savory samplings from more than 25 Maui restaurants—from mahimahi over jasmine rice to spaghetti and meatballs. The event benefits several youth groups on the island, including schools and athletic organizations.

The resort area of Wailea has its own food event. Part of the Maui Film Festival, the Taste of Wailea features Wailea’s top chefs preparing mouthwatering portions of their signature dishes (which are, naturally, accompanied by some of the world’s finest wines).

Each summer, food and wine aficionados from all over the country head to Kapalua on Maui for the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival. Regarded as Hawaii’s most prestigious and longest-running food and wine extravaganza, this four-day event features exclusive wine tasting seminars, cooking demonstrations by internationally acclaimed chefs and a fantastic selection of the world’s premier wines.

Big Island

On the Big Island, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival takes place each November. The 10-day festival includes more than 30 community events, including coffee tastings, art exhibits, recipe contests and more.

These are just a few of the festivals that highlight Hawaii’s special events calendar. Be sure to check ahead and see what’s coming up during your Hawaiian stay!