Cucina: From Mauka to Makai

Event Date:

Oct. 18, 2025

Event Time:

6:00-9:00 P.M.

Location:

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

At the heart of every Italian home is the cucina—the kitchen—a place where generations gather, recipes are passed down, and meals are made with love. Join us for Cucina: From Mauka to Makai at the breathtaking Mauna Kea Beach Hotel to embark on a culinary journey from Italy to the Pacific.

Watch as more than a dozen chefs and culinary masters come together to honor the rustic elegance of Italian cooking, infusing it with Hawaii’s vibrant bounty from land to sea. From Lombardy to Sicily, savor ten exquisite dishes inspired by the warmth of nonna’s table—blending age-old Italian techniques and Mediterranean flavors with the finest Hawaii-grown ingredients.

As with any great Italian meal, no dish is complete without the perfect pairing. Sip exquisite wines from Italy’s most celebrated vineyards, and enjoy handcrafted aperitivo inspired by the timeless cocktails of the Italian coast. Experience the warmth, flavor, and heritage of Italy—right here in Hawaii! See below for more information and VIP experiences:

MORE INFORMATION

Priority ticket gives you early entry at 5:00 P.M., an hour before General Admission attendees.
VIP includes early entry access at 5:00 P.M. and a reserved seat in our VIP lounge featuring three exclusive culinary delights! Reserve a VIP table of ten to secure an entire table for your group. VIP guests will enjoy:
- Truffle pasta station by Chef Daisuke Hamamoto of Arancino Ristorante Italiano;
- Foie gras station by Chef Lenny Messina of Hudson Valley Foie Gras;
- Caviar creations by Chef Cedric Vongerichten of Wayan & Ma·dé;
- And a private bar of premium pours.
Event is outdoors, resort casual attire.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING VIP ACCESS

VIP guests receive early entry at 5:00 P.M. and reserved seating in the VIP lounge. Tickets are not issued for this event; guests will be checking in by a guest list, where they will receive a special VIP wristband.

To ensure a seamless experience for all VIP guests, please note that access to the VIP lounge is limited to only those wearing the VIP wristbands. Guests must wear their VIP wristband throughout the evening to enjoy the exclusive chef and beverage stations and reserved seating.

Guests without the proper wristbands will not be permitted entry, and kindly ask that VIP guests refrain from bringing guests into the VIP section that are not included on their guest list or do not have a VIP wristband.

October 18, 2025

6:00-9:00 P.M.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Attire: Resort Casual
Outdoors

Buy Tickets

GENERAL ADMISSION

$300

Entry at 6:00 P.M.

PRIORITY

$400

Early Entry at 5:00 P.M.

VIP

INDIVIDUAL – $500

TABLE OF TEN (10) – $5,000

Early Entry at 5:00 P.M. and reserved seating in VIP Lounge

Contact Aya Leslie to purchase VIP table, email: [email protected]

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

21 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER

No one under the age of 21, including children in strollers accompanied by their parents, will be admitted to Festival events, unless noted otherwise.

ABOUT THE EVENT

Ticket includes all food and drinks at event, and inclusive of taxes, fees and gratuity.
All sales are final. All events, prices, performances, venues, dates and times are subject to change without notice.
Please refer to FAQ for more information.

EAT, DRINK & STAY THE NIGHT

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is offering special room rates for HFWF attendees. Click HERE to book. Reservations and room rates are subject to availability.

SUPPORT HFWF

Hawaii Food & Wine Festival is a program of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Hawaii Ag & Culinary Alliance. All proceeds from the Fifteenth Annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival benefit local aina-based and community organizations which support culinary and agricultural education, sustainability, and cultural programs in Hawaii.

If you are unable to attend an event, please consider making a donation HERE.