Food festival · Waimea (Kamuela), Big Island
Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival — Big Island 2026
Hosted by Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival
The Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival was founded in 2011 by chefs Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong, growing out of an annual Hawaii Farm Bureau benefit dinner Yamaguchi had hosted at his original Roy's restaurant. Now in its sixteenth year as a statewide nonprofit, the festival has raised more than $5 million for community organizations supporting culinary education, sustainable agriculture, cultural preservation, and workforce development.
The Big Island weekend opens the festival each fall, with 2026 events anchored at Mauna Kea Resort on the Kohala Coast. October 16 features the Cuisines of the Sun Golf Classic at Mauna Kea Golf Course, pairing culinary talent with resort golf. October 17 brings "Smoked, Shucked & Cured" (6–9 p.m.) at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, a grand tasting where ten chefs present dishes built around smoking, shucking, and curing — flame-kissed meats, cured specialties, and fresh seafood served raw — alongside wines, craft cocktails, and beer. The 2026 festival theme is "Traditions & Heritage."
- Founded in 2011 by chefs Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong
- Sixteenth annual edition in 2026, themed "Traditions & Heritage"
- Nonprofit; raised over $5 million for culinary education and local agriculture
- "Smoked, Shucked & Cured" grand tasting Oct. 17, 6–9 p.m. at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Food & vendors: Smoked meats, cured specialties, and shucked fresh seafood, paired with wines, craft cocktails, and beer at the October 17 grand tasting
Plan your weekend on Big Island
While you’re out for Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival — Big Island, see who else is open — and meet the makers and farmers behind Hawai‘i’s markets.
Farmers markets this weekend
Get this weekend’s lineup
One email a week: Hawai‘i events, market lineups, and who’s selling where.
Good to know
When is Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival — Big Island?
Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival — Big Island is scheduled for Friday, October 16, 2026 and Saturday, October 17, 2026, but the source has not published a time yet.
Where is Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival — Big Island?
You'll find Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival — Big Island at Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival, Mauna Kea Resort, 62-100 Mauna Kea Beach Dr, Kamuela, HI 96743 in Waimea (Kamuela), Big Island.
Will there be food at Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival — Big Island?
Smoked meats, cured specialties, and shucked fresh seafood, paired with wines, craft cocktails, and beer at the October 17 grand tasting
Should I confirm Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival — Big Island before going?
Yes. Our listing is based on https://hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com/; https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/hawaii-food-wine-festival; https://hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com/schedule/; https://alohastatedaily.com/2026/05/27/hawaii-food-and-wine-festival-announces-line-up/. Event dates and times can change, so confirm with the host before you go.
About food festivals
Hawaii's food festivals celebrate a signature crop or local specialty — 100% Kona coffee, the sweet Kula onion, summer lychee, or the islands' love of SPAM. Expect farmers and producers, chef demonstrations, tastings, and artisan markets.
Many are tied to a harvest season and double as community fundraisers. Some are single-day street festivals; others, like the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, run for a week or more across multiple venues.
- Come hungry and bring cash for tastings and vendor booths.
- Harvest dates shift year to year — confirm the current date before you go.
Sources: source; source. Dates and times can change — confirm with the organizer before you go.