The Hua Momona Foundation has locked in Aug. 21–22 for the third annual Maui Music & Food Experience at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, bringing two nights of live music and a multi‑station chef showcase back to West Maui. Organizers say proceeds will support the foundation’s work on food security, housing replacement and youth music programming in Lahaina as the island continues to recover from the 2023 wildfires.
Lineup, Dates And Tickets
On Friday, Aug. 21, the stage is set for 3 Pounds of Kalo, John Cruz and headliner Taimane. Saturday keeps the momentum going with Kanekoa, What Mongoose? featuring Lisa Fischer and Robert Irving III, and four‑time Grammy winners LOS LOBOS joined by special guest Alejandro Escovedo. Single‑day and two‑day GA and VIP tickets are on sale now, with early‑bird pricing available through June 1, according to Maui Music & Food Experience.
Chefs And Curators
Chef‑curator Zach Laidlaw is back to lead the culinary side of the weekend, which will feature six chef stations built around local, farm‑forward ingredients. Organizers list participating chefs as Alvin Savella, Donovan Foster, Zach Sato, Taylor Ponte and Hannah Stanchfield, per Maui Now.
Organizers And Advisory Board
“The certain sell out of this weekend of music and food demonstrates the love people have for Maui. Every note, every bite breathes a little more Aloha into our community,” founder Gary Grube said in a statement to Maui Now. The program’s inaugural advisory board is led by Lahaina‑born ukulele artist Naiwi Teruya and includes mentors Billy Cox, Bernard Fowler, Nicholas Tremulis, John Cruz, Darryl Jones and Vince Esquire, who are set to guide young musicians through workshops and hands‑on sessions.
Where The Money Goes
According to Hua Momona Farms, the Maui Music & Food Experience channels funds into on‑island efforts such as distributing fresh produce and hot meals, helping facilitate housing replacement and supporting mental‑health programs. A foundation press release reported that last year’s Experience raised about $250,000 and that the festival grew to include a Chicago show in 2025, per Shore Fire Media.
Tickets, Travel And Local Context
The Maui Music & Food Experience will unfold on the oceanfront grounds of the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa and is timed to dovetail with RISE Maui, a companion conference running Aug. 17–22 that organizers say will layer in workshops and keynote programming. For details on passes, hospitality packages and the full festival schedule, visit Maui Music & Food Experience.
With early‑summer visitors headed for the island, organizers say the Experience is designed to blend entertainment with relief, offering both economic lift and cultural programming for residents. As the festival returns, its mix of local chefs, celebrated performers and youth mentorship positions the weekend as both a celebration and a fundraiser for Lahaina’s ongoing recovery.
