Hawaii Food & Wine Festival® Partners With the James Beard Foundation® to Support Women in the Culinary Industry

HONOLULU, HI (September 5, 2024)—The Hawaii Food and Wine Festival^® (HFWF) is proud to announce a new partnership with the James Beard Foundation^® (JBF) to support women in the culinary industry, aligning with the theme for the Fourteenth Annual Festival: Empowerment. During HFWF’s Oahu week of events, the Festival will host Culinary EmpowHERment—a culinary conversation and brunch—on Sunday, November 10 at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort. The event is part of the Friends of James Beard Benefit^® series and will serve as a fundraiser to support JBF’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (WEL) program.

The flagship initiative provides advanced educational, training, and networking opportunities for women who own or co-own brick-and-mortar food and beverage businesses across the United States with their education partner, Cornell University. The Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership program is a vital component of the James Beard Foundation’s Good Food for Good^® mission, focusing on advocacy, racial equity, sustainability, and women’s leadership. Since the program’s inception in 2017, three Hawaii-based female entrepreneurs have been selected to participate in the WEL program including HFWF chef Ahu Hettema of Istanbul Hawaii, Mahina Reppun of Morning Glass Coffee (an alumna of Hawaii Ag & Culinary Alliance’s From Cottage Industry to Commercial Enterprise program), and Jan Hori of Hawaiian Pie Company.

By partnering with HFWF, both organizations aim to uplift women in the culinary field and create lasting change. Despite women comprising more than half of culinary school students, they hold less than 7% of executive chef positions in the United States, according to a study by the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United. This disparity underscores the critical need for initiatives like the WEL program to provide women with the tools, resources, and opportunities needed to advance in their careers and lead the industry forward.

Attendees of the Culinary EmpowHERment brunch will enjoy a morning of conversation, connection, and celebration, surrounded by some of the most talented women in the food and beverage industry. The event will begin with a thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by award-winning chef and founding partner of Morph Hospitality Group, Maneet Chauhan—a permanent judge on Food Network’s Chopped, which won a James Beard Broadcast Media Award in 2012. Panelists include renowned chefs and James Beard Award nominees Reem Assil, Elizabeth Falkner, and Anita Lo. They will be joined by Sysco Hawaii chef Jacqueline Lau and celebrated mixologist and bar owner, Julie Reiner to share their personal journeys, insights, and the challenges they have faced while forging paths in traditionally male-dominated industries.

Following the panel, guests will network in a walk-around brunch featuring unique culinary creations from these notable female chef panelists and Hawaii chef Hyun Kim. In addition to celebrating women’s achievements and resilience in the culinary world, all proceeds from HFWF’s inspiring event will benefit the WEL program and provide opportunities for established women entrepreneurs to ensure their success and increase women-owned businesses across the country, especially here in Hawaii. 

This partnership underscores HFWF’s commitment to supporting culinary education and empowerment. “We are thrilled to collaborate with the James Beard Foundation to champion women’s leadership in our industry,” said Denise Yamaguchi, CEO of HFWF. “Events like Culinary EmpowHERment provide a platform to celebrate the diverse talents and contributions of women, and to inspire the next generation of female leaders in food and hospitality.”

Tickets for the Culinary EmpowHERment brunch are $125 per person and available for purchase at www.HFWF.me. The full schedule of Hawaii Food & Wine Festival events and participating chef line up is available online at hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com. Stay connected—follow HFWF on Instagram @HIFoodWineFest using #HFWF24 and Facebook at @HawaiiFoodandWineFestival. Since 2011, HFWF has raised nearly $5 million to support local community and aina-based organizations committed to agricultural and culinary education, sustainability and cultural initiatives.