FEAST Summit Boosts Hawaii Food Economy
Hundreds gathered in Waikiki for the second annual FEAST Summit, which opened the Oahu leg of the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Food and Drink
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Hundreds gathered in Waikiki on Thursday, November 5, 2026, for the second annual FEAST Summit, which stands for Food, Education, Agriculture, Sustainability and Tourism. The conference kicked off the Oahu leg of the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, which raises funds for Hawaii Ag and Culinary Alliance programs.
Why it matters
The summit brought together developers, business leaders, chefs and family eateries from across Hawaii's food chain to address shared economic goals. Its outcomes aim to strengthen tourism and export opportunities for the state's food sector.
Attendees worked in groups to develop ideas for boosting tourism and exports through value-added products. Group feedback is being delivered to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to assess needs.
The players
Hawaii Food and Wine Festival
A food and wine event whose Oahu leg was launched by the FEAST Summit and which raises funds for Hawaii Ag and Culinary Alliance programs.
Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
Hawaii's state agency that receives group feedback from the summit to assess the needs of the state's food economy.
The details
Participants included local developers and business leaders alongside chefs from Michelin-star restaurants, family eateries and private kitchens. Development centers in central Oahu could turn farmers' off-grade crops into revenue streams.
Timeline
Thursday, November 5, 2026: Second annual FEAST Summit held in Waikiki.
Culture Shift
The FEAST Summit's focus on value-added products builds on the Hawaii Ag and Culinary Alliance programs funded by the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival. It extends that fundraising work into concrete tourism and export strategies for the state's food chain.
Attendees and local food businesses can follow the state's review of group feedback to see whether new development centers and export programs move forward. Residents interested in the festival's Oahu events can track its schedule through the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival.
The takeaway
Turning off-grade crops into value-added products could open new revenue for Hawaii farmers while supporting the state's tourism and export goals.
Further reading
For more on the local dining scene, explore Food and Drink coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hawaiinewsnow.
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