Huliau Food & Film Festival to host Farm-to-Table event for youth environmental education

Maui Huliau Foundation, a nonprofit organization offering environmental education programs to Maui youth, will host its annual benefit celebration Aug. 17 at Sugar Beach Event’s oceanfront venue in Kīhei.

The fundraiser will feature a farm-to-table, five-course meal prepared by local chefs, a selection of short films by Maui Huliau’s youth filmmakers, a cash bar run by Sugar Beach Events and live music by Eddee Sebala.

Students create films featuring some of the local farms where the ingredients for the farm-to-table meal are grown. This year, the farms include Okoʻa Farms, Haleakalā Creamery and Waipono Farm.

In addition, this year’s event will include a film focusing on the history and importance of the Lahaina area created by students at Lahainaluna High School last school year as part of Maui Huliau Foundation’s youth filmmaking program.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Maui Huliau Foundation’s youth programs. These focus on filmmaking, leadership, zero waste, climate change, ʻāina-based education, careers in conservation and more. Funds will also help support their Kūkulu Pilina (“building connections”) program, which works to assist schools in building connections with community partners who can support their educational efforts, and to facilitate more off-campus ʻāina-based experiences for both teachers and students.

“In addition to our existing youth programs, this past school year, we have significantly expanded on our efforts to support teachers and students, especially at Lahainaluna and the Upcountry schools,” said Malia Cahill, executive director of Maui Huliau Foundation. “Our fundraiser this year will help us grow these efforts to build community support for these projects, on and off campus, and to foster a positive learning environment for students after last year’s devastating fires.”

A talented team of chefs will serve fresh, locally inspired small plates and desserts. The volunteer chef team includes John Cadman of Maui Breadfruit Company and Pono Pies, Lee Anderson of Sugar Beach Events, Dean Louie of UH Maui College, Maja Liotta of The Ridge Maui and Terry Manegdeg of Andaz Wailea Resort. Event sponsors include CDF Engineering, Blue Ginger Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian Paddle Sports and Hawaiian Electric Co.

The festival will be held 6 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 17. Individual tickets are $135 per person and include the five-course meal and all entertainment. Tables of four to eight guests can be booked at a discount and include VIP onsite parking. Drinks will be available for purchase from Sugar Beach Events’ bar. Reservations can be made online at www.mauihuliaufoundation.org/huliau-food-film-festival.