Few things in life are better than great food shared under an open sky. Now imagine doing that on the islands of Hawaii, surrounded by world-class chefs, local farmers, award-winning winemakers, and the warm spirit of aloha. That is exactly what awaits you this fall. Whether you are a lifelong food lover or planning your first culinary trip, this guide covers everything you need to know before you go.
What Is the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival?
The Hawaii Food and Wine Festival is Hawaii’s premier culinary event of the year. Spanning Hawaii Island, Maui, and Oahu, this three-weekend festival brings together chefs, mixologists, sommeliers, and winemakers from Hawaii and around the country. Its goal is to support Hawaii’s local agriculture and culinary industries and position Hawaii as a world-class culinary destination.
Now in its 16th year, the event was co-founded by James Beard Award-winning chefs Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong, two of the founders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine. Their vision was simple but powerful: connect the world’s best culinary talent with the extraordinary ingredients that Hawaii’s farmers, ranchers, and fishermen produce every single day.
Over the years, the event has grown far beyond its original scope. It is now a statewide platform that drives real economic and cultural impact. The festival contributes over $5 million toward culinary education, sustainability, cultural preservation, and relief efforts for restaurant and hospitality workers during challenging times. Therefore, attending is not just an indulgence. It is a way to give back to the community.
2026 Festival Dates and Island Schedule
The festival spreads across three weekends and three islands, running from October 16 to November 8, 2026. Each island gets its own weekend, so you can pick the one that fits your trip rather than chasing all three.
Here is how the schedule breaks down:
- Hawaii Island (Big Island): October 16 to 17, 2026
- Kaananapali, Maui: October 23 to 25, 2026
- Oahu: November 5 to 8, 2026
The Hawaii Island weekend is anchored at Mauna Kea Resort on the Kohala Coast. The Maui weekend sits in Kaananapali. The Oahu weekend spreads across Honolulu and Windward Oahu.
This multi-island structure gives visitors real flexibility. You can plan a weekend trip to a single island or build a longer Hawaii vacation around all three. Either way, book early. The most popular events sell out weeks, sometimes months, in advance.
The 2026 Theme: Traditions and Heritage
Each year, the festival centers on a unifying theme that guides what chefs cook and what stories get told. The theme of the festival this year is Traditions and Heritage. Dishes will reflect the cultural roots of Hawaii’s culinary and agricultural communities. As always, chefs are required to incorporate locally grown, raised, or caught ingredients into their dishes.
This requirement is not just a rule. It is the heartbeat of the entire event. When a chef from New York or Seoul arrives in Hawaii and cooks with taro pulled from a local farm or fish caught that same morning, something remarkable happens. The dish becomes a conversation between cultures. It tells a story that neither party could tell alone.
Additionally, the Traditions and Heritage theme encourages a deeper look at the roots of Hawaii’s food culture. This includes Native Hawaiian agricultural practices and the culinary traditions brought by Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese, Korean, and other immigrant communities over generations.
Key Events Across the Three Islands
Big Island: Opening Weekend at Mauna Kea Resort
The festival kicks off on the Kohala Coast, one of the most scenic stretches of coastline anywhere in the Pacific. The Big Island portion of the festival includes a series of ticketed experiences featuring grand tastings, wine seminars, chef-driven dinners, and specialty culinary events. The festival highlights locally sourced ingredients and brings together farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and culinary leaders to celebrate Hawaii’s diverse food culture.
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is a legendary venue. Dining here with world-class chefs against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean is an experience that is hard to put into words. This opening weekend sets the tone for everything that follows.
Maui: Oceanfront Dining in Kaananapali
The second weekend moves to Maui, where events take place along the stunning Kaananapali coast. The centerpiece of this weekend is an oceanfront lawn gathering hosted at the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa. It is the biggest of all the Maui events and typically ends with a drone show above the water.
One event hosted by chef Alan Wong and presented by HPM Design Centers sells out every year. If you are interested in hitting the links with Wong and several other celebrity chefs, purchase your ticket early. The morning starts with a breakfast bento, followed by chef and libation stations set up between fairways, so you can sip and snack your way through the round.
Oahu: The Grand Finale in Honolulu
The final weekend on Oahu is the largest and most diverse portion of the festival. Events are spread across Honolulu and the surrounding resort areas, featuring grand tastings, wine seminars, chef-driven dinners, and specialty culinary events.
Two of the most anticipated events on Oahu are the grand tasting and the closing brunch. The Greatest Hits grand tasting, presented by Hawaiian Airlines, takes place at Kapiolani Community College Great Lawn on Saturday, November 7. The Breakfast Club brunch is held at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa on Sunday, November 8.
The KCC Great Lawn setting is iconic. Surrounded by Diamond Head and the Honolulu skyline, with dozens of chefs cooking simultaneously, the grand tasting is the kind of event you remember for years.
The Chefs: A World-Class Lineup
One of the greatest draws of the event is the caliber of its culinary participants. The festival will feature nearly 100 chefs and culinary leaders from across the U.S. and abroad, including participants from Canada and South Korea. The 2026 lineup includes 18 new chefs alongside numerous returning participants. Wine professionals, mixologists, culinary innovators, local farmers, ranchers, and fishers are also set to attend. In total, more than 200 culinary tastemakers will participate across all three islands.
Past editions have drawn legendary figures including Masaharu Morimoto, Susur Lee, Roy Choi, Robynne Maʻiʻi, and Sheldon Simeon. The 2026 roster continues this tradition of blending globally renowned names with Hawaii’s most talented local chefs.
However, the chefs are not simply performing. They are collaborating with the land. Every dish at every event must use locally sourced ingredients. This creative constraint sparks innovation and produces food that could only exist in Hawaii.
The FEAST Conference: More Than Just Food
Beyond the tastings and dinners, the festival hosts a professional development conference. This platform for global thought leadership consists of panel discussions with speakers from across the culinary, hospitality, agriculture, and visitor industries, alongside cooking demonstrations, grand tastings, and local food vendors.
FEAST stands for Food, Education, Agriculture, Sustainability, and Tourism. It brings together industry professionals to discuss the future of Hawaii’s food system, the challenges facing local farmers, and the opportunities that lie ahead for culinary education and workforce development.
Additionally, the festival has a formal partnership with the Culinary Institute of the Pacific and the Culinary Institute of America’s Workforce Development Program. These programs offer five-day intensive courses using locally sourced ingredients, giving culinary professionals a chance to deepen their skills while contributing to Hawaii’s agricultural economy.
Tickets: How to Buy and What to Expect
All festival events are adults-only. Guests must be 21 years or older to attend, and no children of any age are permitted at any event.
Individual event tickets typically range from $125 to $350. Premium experiences, such as exclusive gala dinners, VIP seating, and chef-hosted private events, can run significantly higher. In past years, certain events have offered covered seating upgrades and elevated tiers priced above the general entry level.
Tickets are sold through the official festival website at hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com. Some individual events can also be purchased through partnering resort properties. The most in-demand events sell out very quickly, so buying early is strongly recommended.
Additionally, the festival runs seasonal promotions and sweepstakes. One lucky winner can receive a trip for two with travel and accommodations provided by partners at Hawaiian Airlines and Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa, plus two priority access tickets to the grand tasting and two tickets to the closing brunch. Check the festival’s official social channels and website for sweepstakes entry details before July 31, 2026.
Visitor Guide: Planning Your Trip
Choosing Your Island
Each island weekend offers a distinct experience. The Big Island weekend feels intimate and dramatic, set against volcanic coastline. Maui blends tropical luxury with oceanfront dining. Oahu brings the energy of Honolulu, iconic landmarks, and the largest events of the entire festival. Therefore, think about what atmosphere you want and plan accordingly.
Getting Around
You will want a car on every island to reach the venues comfortably. Public transport on the outer islands is limited, and festival venues are often located within or near resort areas that require private transportation. Book your rental car early, as availability tightens quickly during the festival weekends.
Where to Stay
Resort properties that partner with the festival often have special room blocks set aside for attendees. Staying at or near the venue makes logistics far simpler. On the Big Island, look for options along the Kohala Coast. On Maui, Kaananapali is the center of the action. And on Oahu, Waikiki puts you close to the final weekend’s events.
What to Wear
The festival is casual-elegant. Most events happen outdoors in warm weather, so light, breathable clothing is ideal. However, some gala dinners call for slightly more polished attire. Check individual event descriptions for dress guidance when purchasing your tickets.
Weather in October and November
Hawaii in fall is generally warm and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the low 80s Fahrenheit. However, afternoon showers are common on Hawaii Island and Maui, particularly in October. Carrying a light rain layer and comfortable walking shoes will serve you well across all three weekends.
Why the Festival Matters Beyond the Plate
This event is more than an exceptional culinary experience. It is a vehicle for meaningful change. In recent years, a record number of tickets have been purchased by out-of-state visitors, reinforcing Hawaii’s growing reputation as a top culinary destination. Hawaii was even named the U.S. state with the best food scene by Escoffier, as reported by Travel and Leisure.
Beyond tourism, the event supports farmers, educates the next generation of chefs, and preserves the cultural food traditions that make Hawaii unique. The festival drives significant economic impact, with approximately $26.5 million in visitor spending, while also directing millions toward culinary education, sustainability, and cultural preservation.
When you buy a ticket, you are part of that story.
Conclusion
The Hawaii Food and Wine Festival 2026 is a once-a-year opportunity to experience the very best of what the islands have to offer. Running from October 16 to November 8 across three islands and three weekends, the sixteenth annual event brings together nearly 100 chefs, over 200 culinary tastemakers, and thousands of food lovers for an unforgettable celebration of flavor, culture, and community. The Big Island opens the festivities at Mauna Kea Resort, Maui follows with oceanfront dining in Kaananapali, and Oahu closes the festival with the iconic Greatest Hits grand tasting and The Breakfast Club brunch.
The 2026 theme of Traditions and Heritage weaves a meaningful thread through every dish and every conversation. Tickets range from $125 to $350 and beyond, with all events restricted to guests aged 21 and over. Plan early, buy tickets as soon as they open, and choose the island that speaks to you most. This is one fall trip you will not regret.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival 2026 take place?
The festival runs from October 16 to November 8, 2026, across three islands. Hawaii Island hosts the first weekend from October 16 to 17, Maui takes the middle weekend from October 23 to 25, and Oahu closes things out from November 5 to 8.
Who can attend the festival events?
All festival events are strictly for guests aged 21 and older. No children of any age are permitted at any event, regardless of the specific program or venue.
How much do tickets cost?
Individual event tickets typically range from $125 to $350. Premium dinners, VIP experiences, and gala events can be priced higher. Tickets are sold through the official festival website at hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com and through select partnering resort properties.
What is the 2026 festival theme?
The 2026 theme is Traditions and Heritage. All participating chefs are required to incorporate locally grown, raised, or caught Hawaii ingredients into their dishes, and the programming reflects the rich cultural roots of Hawaii’s culinary and agricultural communities.
Do I need to attend all three island weekends?
No. Each island weekend is a standalone experience with its own events, venues, and ticket sales. Many visitors choose one island that fits their schedule and budget. However, if you want the full festival experience, planning a trip across multiple islands is very possible with some advance planning.
