In 2021, Hawaii Food & Wine Festival returns to its roots with a spotlight on its overarching theme, “Taste Our Love for the Land,” which promotes Hawaii’s local agricultural and fishing industries by producing world-class culinary experiences that also give back. The vision is to use the Festival’s platform to encourage residents and visitors alike to care for Hawaiʻi, our culture and our natural environment.
HFWF will ask all of its participating chefs, winemakers and mixologists to Malama Aina or care for the land by leading a group of volunteers to do farm work, beach cleanups, reef preservation, etc. that will be tied to the Festival’s events and partners. Malama Aina will allow our chefs, as well as our attendees, to dive deeper into the history and culture of the islands, creating a stronger connection and appreciation for the islands.
The program is designed to bridge a relationship between locals and visitors and support Malama Hawaii, the Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau’s (HVCB) and Hawaii Tourism Authority’s (HTA) initiative to attract a more mindful visitor that will leave Hawaii better than when they arrived. Malama Aina’s goal is to create unique volunteer activities tied to the Festival’s food experiences, providing visitors with the opportunity to work the land as their hookupu or gift back to the islands for their vacation time spent in the islands.
Unlike any other Festival in the world, HFWF already requires all chefs to use a local product in their dish(es). Before arriving, chefs are given a list of 105 local ingredient items (i.e. produce, fish, beef, poultry, etc.) from which they can choose for their dishes. In addition to local ingredients, chefs will now be asked to sign a pledge to be a Malama Aina ambassador and to lead a group of volunteers in an activity that will promote sustainability and/or food security. The Malama Aina volunteer activities will be limited to Festival ticket holders. Those who participate in the Festival will have this special opportunity to touch, feel and taste the land and ingredients grown here while also giving back to the islands.
6 окт 2024
