While food has always brought people together, there is a sort of inexplicable magic about eating Hawaiian meals by the open ocean. Perhaps that magic is in the local ingredients found only on the islands, or maybe it is in the kindness of the chefs and those with whom you dine. Maybe the magic is in each element that comes together to create a Hawaiian feast. Nevertheless, such rare magic is captured at the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival every year across the islands.

Run by Hawaii Ag and Culinary Alliance, the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival is a nonprofit event that aims to not only support and bring exposure to local food industries in Hawaii but also to support sustainable food production through cultural and educational programs. The festival runs on specific days between October and December every year, with the many islands hosting the different events over the fall and winter months. Different islands host the event each year, with the Island of Hawaii hosting it in early October, Oahu in mid-October and early November, and Maui in early December.

Each event is unique in terms of the type of cuisine featured, the chefs hosted, and the wine and music promoted. The theme for this year’s festival across all of the events is “Taste Our Love for the Land” which strives to promote Hawaii’s fishing and farming industries. This year’s festival will have 17 events and 67 world-class chefs from Hawaii and other parts of the United States. The festival is such a coveted affair that all of October’s events and most of November’s events have already been sold out.

The Hawaii Food and Wine Festival began as a dream in the minds of acclaimed chefs Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong. Both winners of the esteemed James Beard award, Yamaguchi and Wong had spent years developing respected reputations in the culinary community both locally and internationally. Yamaguchi and Wong wanted to create an experience that supported and encouraged local agriculture and fishing industries to grow and raise specialty ingredients and other items only found in Hawaii. In 2011, Denise Hayashi Yamaguchi founded the first ever Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, and the festival was officially launched in Honolulu with the help of Yamaguchi and Wong. SInce then, the festival has consistently seen more people flock to the event as its popularity grows. In 2012 in only its second ever festival, 4,000 guests were present. By 2019, over 12,000 people participated in the festival, from chefs to servers to guests, with over 1,500 of them coming from outside Hawaii to experience the festival.

Some of the most anticipated events of this year’s festival include Kamehameha Schools Presents Backyard BBQ & Mele on the Lawn. This event consists of a feast on the beautiful lawn of Bishop Museum where chefs from local restaurants will grill and smoke classic dishes and serve them with Hawaiian local dishes. Ulu, or Hawaiian breadfruit, is one of the star ingredients that will be featured at this event. This event will also see live music and musical tales of Hawaiian mythic origins to accompany a mouth-watering meal under the stars.

This December, on the scenic Wailea Beach of Maui, guests can enjoy a special event called “Now You See it Now You Don’t”, an exclusive experience hosted by Hawaiian Airlines. Here, guests will get the chance to taste dishes from many award-winning chefs, including Humble Market Kitchin’s Executive Chef Matt Dela Cruz and Maui chef Taylor Ponte of Kamado Maui. In addition to Cruz and Ponte, other chefs will come from across the country to create a five-course meal for guests using only the freshest of ingredients found in Hawaii. The meal will also, of course, be paired with exceptional wine.

Another popular event of the festival comes at the very end of December and happens at the pristine Kaanapali Golf Course. This year will mark the 24th annual Roy Yamaguchi Golf Classic. This charity event will see guests not only enjoy a game of golf on one of Hawaii’s most scenic courses but will also provide guests with cocktails and light bites. Guests will be able to play 18 holes with acclaimed chefs like Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong all the while enjoying locally made bentos, specialty handrolls, and the best burgers found on the island. After playing a round of golf, the event ends with a beautiful dinner at Roy’s restaurant, Kaanapali.

To ensure guests have the ultimate experience at the festival, the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival has partnered with local luxury hotels and resorts to enhance each moment experienced while in Hawaii. Some of the most sought-after resorts include the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and the Mauna Lani Luxury Resort. At Four Seasons Resort, guests can enjoy the 5 star open-air beachfront suites overlooking the clear waters and windswept palm trees that make Hawaii one of the top tropical destinations in the world. Other resorts like Mauna Lani allow guests to connect with the Hawaiian landscape from its wide white sand beaches to its renowned spas and pools. Resting on a full stomach of Hawaiian food has never been easier.

Getting the chance to taste Hawaii’s best ingredients in one festival is a once in a lifetime experience. From interacting with world-renowned chefs to eating a meal cooked with passion with the Hawaiian beaches as the backdrop, the Hawaiian Food and Wine festival has managed to combine food with Hawaiian culture and the overwhelming natural sights that sculpt and inspire each dish featured.