This Beachside Food Festival Makes a Maui Dream Vacation Even Dreamier

The sunset makes the sky look like a melting Creamsicle, turquoise water sparkling below. Palm trees shimmy in the soft, warm breeze alongside softly flickering tiki torches. I can’t see any, but there are definitely sea turtles lounging somewhere along the meandering Kā‘anapali Beach boardwalk, chilling out to the sound of a Bruno Mars song being tickled out on a ukulele by some random musician. It’s pretty much postcard perfect, but I have to admit, there’s one little thing that could make this idyllic Maui night better: fresh Hokkaido scallops in a zippy herbal citrus jus hand-plated by a James Beard-award winning chef. I’m just a simple girl with simple needs, really.

Thankfully, I’m in the right place to make this indulgent dream come true—specifically, the line in front of chef Roy Yamaguchi’s tent on the great lawn at the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa, where a sprawling raw bar awaits. And when I’ve had my fill of snacking on fresh seafood while soaking up the ocean views, I’ll move on to one of the many other delicious options here at the Grand Tasting night of Maui’s Hawaii Food and Wine Festival. There’s fennel seed-crusted ahi tuna to my left, crispy French toast topped with chive crème fraîche and golden caviar to my right. I’m still a little bit sandy from my earlier excursion to Kū’au Beach Park down the road, and yet I’m about to spend an evening sampling my way through dishes from some of North America’s most impressive fine dining stars. Have there ever been this many Michelin-star chefs on one island? Is it safe to concentrate this much culinary talent in one spot with so many sharks and volcanos nearby? Good thing I put in some serious time snorkelling this afternoon—I’m going to need my appetite.

READ MORE: These Are Vancouver’s Michelin-Star Restaurants

Each fall, acclaimed chefs and mixologists head to Hawaii to strut their stuff (and catch a few waves between services) over three weekends across the islands. I’m here to check out Maui’s very-tasty itinerary, and I’m not the only one at the festival who calls this island their fave. Chef Celestino Drago from the acclaimed Drago Centro in L.A. tells me he’s made the pilgrimage 14 times, and Last Chef Standing winner Marcel Vigneron considers the island his second home. It’s not hard to see why these all-star chefs would jump at the chance to participate: firing up the grill alongside their best culinary buddies on one of the most beautiful beachfronts in North America doesn’t exactly sound like a tough day on the job. (Plus, sportier attendees and chefs can sign up for the annual golf and pickleball tournaments that are also part of the fest.)

Maui certainly isn’t lacking for food options outside of the festival weekend, of course. Beyond the ubiquitous coconut shrimp and mai tais (though I’ve certainly happily consumed plenty of both since touching down), you’ll find top-notch dining peppered among more touristy spots down the Kā‘anapali Beach walkway—wood-fired pizzas at Monkeypod; seafood-forward, Asian fusion at Japengo. But the festival’s Saturday night grand tasting offers an extra-special opportunity for food-loving beach bums—myself very much included.

READ MORE: Vancouver’s Best Seafood Restaurants

As dusk turns to night and the string lights and stars trade off with the sun to light up the scene, I weave through revellers, each of them glowing from happiness and heat. Most are holding a glass of crisp Italian white in one hand and a mini plate of beef agnolotti from chef Michele Belotti of San Francisco’s Riccilli in the other: a balancing act I can get behind. Inspired, I detour for a fizzy gimlet—gotta stay hydrated!—before grabbing Caledonian prawns from the grill (chef Ori Menashe is heating things up over the coals). Hands full, I contemplate how lucky I am to experience such a beautiful feast in such a beautiful place.

I don’t need to remind anyone about how the world shut down in 2020, but that hasn’t been the only time that travel to Maui has been uncertain lately: in 2023, wildfires; in 2025, a trade war. Even in paradise, I know nothing is guaranteed—so I’m taking every bite here, steps away from the sand, with an extra serving of gratitude right now.

It’s a sentiment I see among my fellow over-eaters the next afternoon, too, down at the historic Royal Lahaina. The chefs have rolled out of bed and over to the grill for Sunday’s big Backcourt BBQ brunch on the grass behind the charming bungalow suites.

Despite the late night on Saturday, they’re all laughing and smiling—hard not to when the soundtrack is crashing waves and reggae, I suppose. Though everyone’s got their sunglasses on (sun safety is a must, even for the most dedicated gourmands), I can tell from the lower half of their faces that they’re all just as thrilled to be here as I am. We’re sampling truly incredible lamb kofta gyro and Korean-style tuna tataki in one of the world’s most stunning locations, after all: if there’s a better prompt to be mindful and present and grateful, I’m not sure what it is.

READ MORE: Victoria’s Ugly Duckling Is Destination Dining

I visit chef Timon Balloo (chef/owner at the Katherine in Fort Lauderdale), who’s grilling up oysters and topping them with wild mushrooms and yuzu shoyu, and then hit the Bloody Mary bar to overdo it with garnishes (double prawns? Don’t mind if I do!). Smoke and spice catch in the tropical breezes that waft through the buzzing crowd. This is the good life.

Belly full of mahi mahi, I’ll eventually return to the usual Maui activities: snorkelling, sandcastles, poolside beers, accidental sunburns, day trips to finally see those sea turtles with my own eyes. But even once I’m back home in Vancouver I have a feeling that this has been a meal—no, an experience—that’s going to fill me up for a long time.

The Deets

The 15th annual  Hawaii Food and  Wine Festival runs  October 24 to 26 in Maui; hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com

Stay Here

For the perfect pool  The Westin

The Westin’s pool is, in our humble opinion, the best on the Kā‘anapali strip (multiple waterslides and a grotto to please both kids and the young-at-heart), and it’s within walking distance of all of the festival’s events. Crazy comfy beds are the best for food-coma naps and too-much-sun siestas alike. Rooms from $540 USD. marriott.com

For a family-friendly home base The Whaler Resort

With a full kitchen and suites with multiple rooms, the Whaler is a comfortable home base if you’re travelling with a crew. It’s not the fanciest spot on the block, but it’s clean, cozy and stocked with all the home-away-from-home essentials—including in-suite laundry. Two-bedroom suites start from $829 USD a night. thewhalerresort.com