Waipahu's streets are about to smell like banh mi, taiyaki and ube ice cream as the Taste of Waipahu returns for its 20th year this Saturday, Nov. 7, running from 4 to 9 p.m. between Waipahu Depot and Hikimoe streets. The free event is expected to draw a crowd roughly the size of a small town, with vendors and live entertainment filling the closed-off stretch of road.
According to staradvertiser.com, the Waipahu Community Association's annual gathering aims to support the economic, social and cultural vitality of Waipahu, pulling together local food vendors in one of the town's most anticipated events of the year. The milestone 20th edition will mark two decades of community gatherings built around food and festivities, bringing local businesses, flavors and culture together along the same downtown corridor.
City permitting data cited by Aloha State Daily puts expected attendance at about 6,000 people, with admission free and both vendors and live entertainment planned for the night.
What's Cooking This Year
Hawaiian Honey Cones plans to serve J-shaped corn cones filled with Hokkaido or ube ice cream, a dessert with a cult following among repeat festivalgoers, the same report notes. Ono Viet is set to bring spring rolls and banh mi, along with refreshing Thai tea, while Waba Snacks plans bite-sized mini taiyaki available with a variety of fillings.
The lineup of local vendors reflects the broader mix of cuisines that has defined the festival over the years, from Vietnamese staples to Japanese-style street snacks. Two Sisters Kitchen, run by Catharine Cadiz and Camille Cadiz, is also expected among the event's food offerings, according to KHON2's Wake Up 2Day segment previewing the festival.
Two Decades of Growth
The Taste of Waipahu has shifted locations before settling into its current downtown footprint. In 2023, the 17th annual event was held in the Don Quijote parking lot, running the same 4-to-9 p.m. window, per KITV. The following year, the 18th annual edition moved to August Ahrens Elementary School, where it featured food trucks, tents, live entertainment and games for keiki, as KITV reported at the time.
This year's return to Waipahu Depot and Hikimoe streets places the festival back in the heart of downtown Waipahu, where organizers hope the 20th anniversary crowd will be among the largest yet. Loren Doctolero and Cory Chun joined KHON2's Wake Up 2Day to discuss the event's offerings ahead of Saturday, highlighting the local businesses and flavors that have kept the festival a fixture on Oahu's fall calendar.
Planning a Visit
With free admission and no ticket required, the festival is designed as a come-one, come-all celebration of Waipahu's food scene and community spirit. Organizers and vendors have posted previews on Instagram under the handles @tasteofwaipahu and @two_sisters_kitchen_cc for those tracking updates ahead of Saturday's event.
