HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii Food and Wine Festival kicked off its events on Oahu this week with dozens of top local and international chefs and winemakers, showcasing their culinary talent using local ingredients.

Organizers say this year’s theme is empowerment and encourage conversations about global culinary traditions, indigenous agriculture and indigenous community food systems.

“Understanding that food connects our existence today to that of those who came before us and establishes pathways that will lead our next generations into the future,” said Kumu Hina Wong, culture ambassador for the Council of Native Hawaiian Advancement.

“Decolonize our understanding of what we eat, why we eat, where and how we eat, and how we share what we eat.”

There are still a few events left: A culinary empowerment brunch Sunday morning at Outrigger Reef in Waikiki will celebrate women’s leadership and entrepreneurship with the James Beard Foundation.

A beachfront tasting at the Spice Market on Sunday evening showcases a number of creative culinary talents at Ko Olina Resort’s Kohola Lagoon 1.

Visit hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com for tickets.

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