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, cultural ambassador for the Council for 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.”

Chef Francis Ang and his wife Dian, owners of Abaca Restaurant in San Francisco, are attending their second HFWF and served a Filipino-inspired dish of pork ears, salmon and tuna at the event. Behind the Cellar” Friday evening.

They joined HNN’s Sunrise to discuss valuing Filipino cuisine and sharing the flavors of their culture.

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.

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

Visit hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com for tickets.

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