17 Beneficiaries awarded—including Hawaii’s culinary programs and aina-based organizations, bringing total giving since 2011 to $3.5 million
HONOLULU, HI (May 16, 2023)—The Hawaii Food & Wine Festival® (HFWF) announced today that it has donated a total of $380,000 to local culinary, agricultural, community and aina-based organizations statewide. The funds were raised during the Twelfth Annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival which was held from October through November of last year. This brings the total giving for HFWF to $3.5 million since the Festival’s inception in 2011, supporting more than 70 causes and organizations committed to sustainability, culinary and agricultural education, and cultural programs in Hawaii.
“For years, the Festival has supported the education of Hawaii’s future chef talent; provided agricultural education to keiki in grades K-12; and assisted in the restoration of agricultural land and cultural practices that foster sustainability,” said HFWF CEO, Denise Yamaguchi. “These beneficiaries are vital in Hawaii’s journey to a more food sovereign and food secure future, and Hawaii Food & Wine Festival is proud to support these nonprofit organizations.”
The 2022 beneficiaries were recognized at a private reception held at Mariposa at Neiman Marcus earlier this week in conjunction with the highly anticipated announcement of the Thirteenth Annual HFWF events scheduled to run October 13-November 5, 2023. In attendance were HFWF sponsors, industry partners and supporters representing numerous international, national and local corporations, government agencies and beneficiary organizations.
2022 Hawaii Food & Wine Festival Beneficiaries include:
- Hawaii Agricultural Foundation
- Hawaii Community College Culinary Arts Program – Hilo
- Hawaii Community College Culinary Arts Program – Kona
- Hui Malama i ke Ala Ulili
- Imua Family Services
- Jennifer Ozawa Memorial Scholarship
- Kakoo Oiwi
- Kapiolani Community College Culinary Arts Program
- Kauai Community College Culinary Arts Program
- Kipuka Olowalu
- Kumano I Ke Ala
- Leeward Community College
- Maui County Farm Bureau
- Michael Ginor Scholarship Fund
- Paepae o Heeia
- Papahana Kuaola
- University of Hawaii Maui College Culinary Arts Program
During the reception, HFWF Co-Founder & Chair Chef Alan Wong announced that a portion of proceeds from the 2022 Festival will support the creation of a scholarship fund through the Hawaii Ag & Culinary Alliance in memory of the late Chef Michael Ginor, a longtime participant and generous supporter of the festival. “The Michael Ginor Scholarship Fund will provide perpetual scholarships for Hawaii’s culinary students to stage (extern) at Ginor’s Hudson Valley Foie Gras or Restaurant LOLA in New York,” shared Wong, furthering the Festival’s commitment to fostering the next generation of culinary professionals.
Each year, proceeds from HFWF ticket purchases go toward supporting Hawaii’s farmers, ranchers, and fishermen and agricultural education for children, in addition to investing in up-and-coming chef talent at local culinary colleges. Pre-sale tickets for the Thirteenth Annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival® are available to First Hawaiian Bank Private Banking customers until May 16—after which, tickets go on sale to the general public starting Wednesday, May 17. 11 events scheduled from October 13-November 5, 2023 in Kaanapali, Maui, the Island of Hawaii and Oahu are available to browse on the website with additional events to be announced in the coming months. Visit hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com to purchase tickets, view event details and chef lineup.
For Press & Media inquiries, please contact:
Kristen Lau-Grover, Director of Marketing & PR | [email protected] or 808-721-1849
ABOUT HAWAII FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL®
The Hawaii Food & Wine Festival® is the premier epicurean destination event in the Pacific. The Festival features a roster of more than 150 internationally renowned master chefs, culinary personalities, sommeliers, mixologists, and wine and spirit producers. Co-founded by two of Hawai‘i’s own James Beard Award- winning chefs, Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong, the Festival showcases culinary experiences, wine tastings, cultural engagement and exclusive dining opportunities with dishes highlighting the State’s bounty of fresh, local produce, seafood, beef, poultry and spices. Since 2011, the Festival has given over $3.5 million to support local beneficiaries committed to culinary and agricultural education, sustainability and cultural programs in Hawai‘i.