The Maui Hemp Institute is launching Hempfest Maui 2016 with plenty of food, products and education, in celebration of Hemp History Week.

Saturday, June 4 will mark the start of Maui’s Hemp History Week, with a free event at Maui Brewing Co. in Kīhei, where the new “Hemp ESB” beer will be introduced.  There will also be a keynote speech by hemp author Doug Fine and showing of the “Bringing it Home” movie.

Sunday, June 5 features a multi-course “Hemplicious” dinner, which includes hemp ‘ulu hummus, hemp-crusted fish, hemp heart vegetable croquette and hemp-crusted Pono Pie.  There will also be a “Hempster of the Year” awards ceremony at the Sugar Beach Events venue, with a site visit to Maui’s first hemp house.   The fundraiser costs $150 per person.

Between Monday, June 6 and Friday, June 10, there will be free island-wide product demonstrations, sampling and educational materials available at stores like Whole Foods, Mana Foods, Down to Earth, Hawaiian Moons and select Foodland stores.

Sunday, June 12 wraps up the week with a hands-on day at the future “Hemp-Food Forest” with farmer/chef James Simpliciano and author Doug Fine.  Participants will learn about hemp and natural farming methods; the event costs $75 per person and includes lunch at Simpli-Fresh Farms in Lāhainā.

Officials show off hemp products at Maui Brewing Co. Courtesy photo.

Hemp beer being made. Maui Brewing Co. will debut Hemp ESB on June 4. Courtesy photo.

Ingredients for hemp beer. Courtesy photo.

Sugar Beach Events’ venue in Kihei will host Hemplicious fundraiser/ dinner on June 5. Photo by Kaua Photography.

Hemplicious dinner menu. Courtesy image.

Here’s a closer look at the week’s schedule:

Saturday, June 4
“HempFest Maui 2016” Launch

Location: Maui Brewing Co. – Kihei

Opening Day of Maui’s Hemp History Week.
“Hemp ESB” beer
Live Music

• Presenters Mayor Arakawa • Doug Fine- “It’s Hempenin America! And more
“Hemp Food Specials”

Sunday, June 5
“Hemplicious Fundraiser/Dinner”
Maui “Hempster of the Year” Awards

Location: Sugar Beach Events – Kihei

• Four course Hemplicious Dinner & Dessert
Maui’s “Hemp House” Tour
• Live Music by Fulton Tashambe & friends

Monday June 6–10
Islandwide Educational and Sampling Presentations

Locations: Whole Foods, Mana Foods, Down to Earth, Hawaiian Moons,
select Foodland stores and others
• Product Demos, samplings and educational materials

Sunday , June 12
“FarmDay 2016”
“Day at the future “Hemp-Food Forest”
Event co-sponsored by Hawaii Farmers Union United -Maui

”Hands on Day” with Farmer/Chef James Simplicico and Doug Fine on Maui’s first Hemp/Food Forest project
Learn about Hemp and Natural Farming Methods that are a part of Maui’s agriculture.
Hempstactic Farm Lunch Included.
$75/person
Location: SimpliFresh Farms -Lahaina

To learn more about Hempfest Maui, see the article here.