The recent wildfires affecting West Maui have been devastating for all of us and our hearts go out to all that have been impacted by this disaster. Governor Josh Green recently issued Governor’s Emergency Proclamation VI which strongly discourages non-essential travel to West Maui from August 17-October 17, 2023. In light of this and the ongoing recovery efforts, the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival® will postpone the October 13-15, 2023 events in Kāʻanapali, Maui to the Spring 2024.
The Festival is committed to supporting Maui’s recovery and its partners the Kāʻanapali Beach Resort Association, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa and The Westin Maui Resort & Spa Kaʻanapali. As part of our ongoing efforts to aid the West Maui community, we are continuing to raise funds for displaced restaurant, bar and hospitality workers through the Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund which has raised $250,000+ to date.
Existing ticket holders for the Kāʻanapali, Maui events are being offered four options for their tickets. This includes:
- Request a full refund for your ticket(s)
- Donate your ticket(s) to the Maui Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund—providing immediate assistance to the restaurant, bar and hospitality workers of West Maui
- Transfer your ticket(s) to the postponed Kāʻanapali Spring 2024 event (exact date TBD)
- Apply the cost of your ticket(s) to another event in the HFWF23 schedule of events
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 three weekend Festival features a roster of more than 150 internationally renowned master chefs, culinary personalities, sommeliers, mixologists, and wine and spirit producers across three islands—making it the largest food and wine festival in the state of Hawaii. Co-founded by two of Hawaii’s own James Beard Award-winning chefs—Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong—the Festival was founded to put a spotlight on Hawaii as a culinary destination during the visitor industry’s shoulder season and showcase the state’s diverse agriculture by requiring all participating chefs to highlight locally grown, raised or caught ingredients in their dishes. In addition to showcasing local chef talent, the festival has become a platform to highlight local artists and artisans, makers, musicians, performing and visual artists to rebuild vital industries in Hawaii. Since the beginning, proceeds from the festival have supported local aina-based and community organizations committed to culinary and agricultural education, sustainability and cultural programs. In 2022 HFWF raised $380,000 to support 17 beneficiaries, bringing total giving since 2011 to $3.5 million.