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Meet Hawaii Food & Wine Festival’s New Executive Chef Kevin Nakata

Meet Hawaii Food & Wine Festival's New Executive Chef Kevin Nakata Meet HFWF Executive Chef Kevin Nakata as he shares his culinary journey, youth mentorship mission, and what is ahead for the 2026 festival.

HONOLULU (HI Now) - Meet the Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival®'s new Executive Chef, Kevin Nakata! The veteran Hawai‘i chef joins HI Now Daily to share more about his new full-time role with the Hawai‘i Ag & Culinary Alliance and how he’ll help connect the Festival’s culinary programming with education and workforce development year-round.

In the kitchen, Kevin revisits his Pier 38 Catch with Hawaiian chili pepper, tsukudani, uni & yuzu—a dish he originally presented at HFWF as a participating chef and one deeply connected to his upbringing and the influence of his father. Plus, get a taste of what’s ahead as the Sixteenth Annual Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival celebrates Traditions & Heritage, October 16 through November 8.

Visit HFWF.me for tickets and the complete schedule.

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