Local lemons and limes from Mahi Pono to be exclusively featured in statewide culinary celebration

The 2025 Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival (HFWF)—a premier celebration of food, wine, and culture—has announced a new partnership that puts Hawai‘i-grown citrus in the spotlight. This year, the festival will exclusively source lemons and limes from local Maui-based farm Mahi Pono, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and local agriculture.

Festival Dates:

• Island of Hawai‘i: October 17–18, 2025

• Maui (Kāʻanapali): October 24–26, 2025

• Oʻahu: October 30 – November 2, 2025

🔗 Official source: Mahi Pono Announcement

Why Hawai‘i-Grown Citrus Matters More Than Ever

In a state that imports nearly 90% of its food, this partnership is a major step toward a more sustainable and self-reliant food system. By sourcing citrus locally, HFWF is supporting Hawai‘i farmers, reducing food miles, and offering fresher, better-tasting produce to festival attendees.

Key Benefits of the Mahi Pono Partnership:

• Supports local agriculture and economy

• Reduces reliance on imported citrus

• Delivers fresher, more flavorful ingredients to chefs and guests

• Encourages other food businesses to source locally

Who Is Mahi Pono?

Mahi Pono is a local farming company based in Maui, dedicated to sustainable agriculture and increasing food security across Hawai‘i. Their citrus groves are already supplying limes to local distributors, and this new partnership with HFWF highlights their growing role in the Islands’ food future.

“We’ve built the infrastructure to supply Maui limes across the state,” says Shan Tsutsui, COO of Mahi Pono. “We encourage chefs, bars, restaurants, and retailers to ask their distributors for them.”
— Mahi Pono

What This Means for Chefs, Restaurants & Distributors

This exclusive citrus partnership sets an example for how local sourcing can scale across industries:

• Chefs & mixologists can highlight Mahi Pono citrus on menus and in drinks

• Distributors now have a reliable local citrus option to offer their clients

• Restaurants & hotels benefit from the marketing appeal of “grown in Hawai‘i” produce

What Guests Can Expect at the 2025 Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival

Festival-goers will enjoy the fresh, zesty flavors of Mahi Pono lemons and limes across dozens of dishes and cocktails—crafted by renowned chefs from Hawai‘i and beyond.

From Maui mule cocktails to citrus-glazed local seafood, the flavors of Hawai‘i-grown fruit will be front and center.

Why This Matters Beyond the Festival

This isn’t just a moment—it’s a movement. By making a public commitment to local sourcing, HFWF is leading by example and showing what’s possible when chefs, farmers, and food lovers come together for a more sustainable Hawai‘i.