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HONOLULU (KHON2) — The 14th annual Hawaii Food and Wine Festival is set to begin next month on Hawaii Island and Maui. In preparation for the celebration and to showcase local culinary talents, “Chefs Week” is currently underway and will continue until September 30. Chefs Colin Hazama of the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival and Colin Sato of Mugen Waikiki appeared on Wake Up 2Day Thursday morning to discuss the forthcoming events.

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“We wanted to create an opportunity to highlight the fabulous local culinary talent we have participating in this year’s Festival events, while also encouraging the community to dine at their restaurants during the typically slower post-Labor Day season and help sustain Hawai’i’s vibrant culinary community,” Hazama explained. “To express thanks for dining local during Chefs Week, we’re offering guests an exclusive deal to enhance their Hawaii Food & Wine Festival experience with Priority Access tickets to select events at the General Admission price. Priority Access allows guests early entry to selected events at 5:00 P.M., providing an extra hour to sample the exquisite food, wine, and cocktails and to engage with the chefs, winemakers, and mixologists.”

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Chef Sato emphasizes the importance of supporting local eateries during the off-peak “shoulder seasons” when tourism is low.

“During these slower periods, local establishments like ours really rely on the support of the community. Initiatives such as HFWF24 Chefs Week play a crucial role by motivating locals to dine out and appreciate the offerings of our regional chefs. These efforts help in keeping our dining rooms full which is not only vital for the sustenance of our restaurant and our employees but also for the local producers like farmers, ranchers, and fishermen, plus other businesses dependent on restaurants’ success. Moreover, events such as the forthcoming Hawai’i Food & Wine Festival significantly aid by highlighting our local food and agriculture, which is essential for promoting Hawaii’s culinary scene.”

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