By Vanessa Wolf

Chandra Lucariello leads the mixology class on Fri. Aug 30 from 2-4 p.m. Courtesy photo.

This coming Labor Day weekend, Kā’anapali Beach Resort will be presenting the second annual Kā’anapali Fresh event.

This two-day summer food festival highlights Kā’anapali, and the entire resort comes together to offer visitors a variety of opportunities to sample chefs’ menus, learn about grown-on-Maui products, and enjoy the coffee-growing history of the land.

First up is “Mixology – A Fresh Approach” from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30 at the Royal Lāhainā Resort.

Chandra Lucariello, director of mixology for Southern Wine & Spirits of Hawai’i in Honolulu will be presenting a fun and engaging cocktail class. The event includes the crafting and tasting of three distinctive cocktails. Attendees will have a chance to talk personally with Lucariello as they enjoy signature pupus.

Later that night is “Progressive Kā’anapali” from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa and The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa.

The progressive dining experience starts at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa with food by their culinary team and that of the Kā’anapali Ocean Resort Villas. The second stop at The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa features desserts and a live performance by Jake Shimabukuro, Hawaii’s award-winning ukulele virtuoso.

Attendees may walk the ocean front beach path from The Westin to The Sheraton or take the complimentary Kā’anapali Fresh event shuttle.

Saturday kicks off with a farmer’s market.

From 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Whalers Village Fine Shops & Restaurants, attendees can meet Maui’s farmers at this special market event.

Here you’ll find produce, flowers, coffee, and other products from Maui’s farms. There will also be chefs’ booths with fresh breakfast items available for purchase.

If you finish up at the market early, from 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the Kā’anapali Coffee Tour – “Celebrating 200 Years of Coffee Cultivation in Hawai’i” – at the Kāʻanapali Estate Coffee Plantation.

During the tour you’ll learn about the art and science of coffee cultivation and how coffee goes from farm to cup.

Meet the growers, learn about Maui’s growing coffee industry, enjoy a gourmet lunch at an exclusive coffee plantation estate home, and taste quality Maui-grown Coffee.

The second annual Kā’anapali Fresh Food & Wine Festival “50 Book Em” dinner takes place under the stars on the third hole of Kā’anapali Golf Course. Courtesy photo.

That evening, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. is the “5-0 Book ʻEm Dinner” held on the third hole of the Kaāʻanapali Golf Course.

In celebration of Kā’anapali Beach’s latest accolade as Trip Advisors “#1 Beach in the Nation” and the Resort’s 50th anniversary, the resort will be holding a commemorative open-air event.

Kāʻanapali’s “locavore” chefs will be coming together with Maui farmers to present “farm to fork” cuisine with wine selected by Southern Wine & Spirits.

Best-selling Hawaiian singer Amy Hanaialli’i Gilliom will perform with slack key guitar master Makana.

The mixology class, progressive dinner, and “5-0 Book ‘Em dinner” are limited to those 21 years and older.

Pricing is as follows.

• The Progressive Dinner is $79 per person.
• The “5-0 Book ‘Em Dinner” is $157 per person.
• The Mixology Class is $26 per person.

Early bird tickets are on sale for $224 – a $38 discount – for all three Kāʻanapali Fresh events, but must be purchased by Sunday, July 21.

We welcome your feedback. Please let us know if you hear of any new restaurants opening or reopening, total menu overhauls, or simply know of a hidden treasure you want to share. Have a restaurant you want reviewed (or re-reviewed)? Drop us a line – Vanessa(@mauinow.com)