Food festival · Waimea (Kamuela), Big Island
Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival — Big Island 2026
Hosted by Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival
What to expect
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."
Program highlights
- 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
Plan your visit
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
What’s worth a trip this weekend
One email a week: the makers worth seeking out, pop-ups, and Hawai‘i cultural events worth planning around.
Sources: source; source. Dates and times can change — confirm with the organizer before you go.