Celebrating a Bounty of Food and Wine: Kā‘anapali Fresh

Courtesy photo.

By Maui Now Staff

There’s still time to take in the food and abundance of what event organizers say is Maui’s “most blogged-about culinary destination event,” Kā‘anapali Fresh, taking place this weekend in West Maui.

The weekend of festivities features an abundance of food offered by Maui’s farmers, ranchers and fishermen, and a bounty presented by a dozen of Maui’s finest resort chefs.

Now in its third year, Kā‘anapali Fresh is the signature event of the Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association, a celebration spanning three days from August 29 to 31, 2014.

Some highlights for the remainder of the weekend include the following:

Kā‘anapali Fresh Food & Wine Festival from Range to Sea: This signature culinary event takes place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Royal Kā‘anapali Golf Course’s scenic hole 3.  Described as a “dining extravaganza,” chefs and restaurants collaborate to present a showcase of culinary sustainability that uses the island’s harvest from the range, farms and sea. Grass-fed beef, pork and lamb, island fish, ripe fruits and vegetables will be presented alongside a boutique of wines from the world’s leading vintners.  Entertainment includes performances by Kamakakehau Fernandez, celebrated Hawaiian trio, and HAPA.

Kitchen Stadium Under the Maui Moon: This gala dinner runs from 6 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31, at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa’s Nāpili Gardens in Kāʻanapali.  Six renowned chefs will prepare a six-course menu highlighting Maui-grown products. This second annual dinner is a prelude to the Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival on O‘ahu, co-chaired by venerable chefs Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong. At last check, tickets to the event were sold out.

Event organizers say Kā‘anapali of a “lifestyle” than a geographic location.

“Within our diverse community of visitors, owners and residents, we all share and appreciate our Hawaiian cultural roots, our multi-cultural influences, and bounty of Maui’s farmers and the magic of Kā‘anapali’s resort chefs,” said Shelley Kekuna, Executive Director of the Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association. “This weekend is a celebration of what they create every day—unbelievably good food.”