# Maui Music and Food Experience (MMFE)

> A two-day outdoor benefit music and food festival on Maui, Hawaii, supporting Lahaina wildfire recovery, food security, and a new West Maui youth music program.

The Maui Music and Food Experience (MMFE) is an annual nonprofit fundraising event celebrating the aloha spirit through world-class live music and a curated culinary experience. Proceeds benefit the Hua Momona Foundation and its ongoing Lahaina recovery and community programs.

## Event Details

- **Event:** Third Annual Maui Music and Food Experience
- **Dates:** August 21 & 22, 2026
- **Location:** Maui, Hawaii (overlooking the Pacific Ocean)
- **Website:** https://mauimusicandfoodexperience.org/
- **Tickets:** https://my.onecause.com/event/organizations/sf-0013n000022DZmIAAW/events/vevt:75335aff-c826-44bb-b6cb-101b3f1bdbc9/home/story
- **Donate:** https://my.onecause.com/event/organizations/sf-0013n000022DZmIAAW/events/vevt:75335aff-c826-44bb-b6cb-101b3f1bdbc9/give/donate

## Mission

The MMFE raises funds to support the Hua Momona Foundation's mission, which includes: providing food to those impacted by the 2023 Lahaina wildfires (the deadliest in U.S. history), accelerating Lahaina's rebuilding with an equity focus, and launching a West Maui youth ukulele music program for young people from Lahaina.

## 2026 Music Lineup

### Friday, August 21, 2026
- **Taimane** — Virtuoso ukulele artist, songwriter, and producer. Four-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner. Hapa Sāmoan artist with over 50 million video views.
- **John Cruz** — Beloved Hawaiian/Chamorro/Native American artist. Multi-Nā Hōkū Award winner. Featured on Grammy-winning Slack Key Guitar, Vol. 2. Known for "Island Style."
- **3 Lbs of Kalo** — Lahaina-based Hawaiian local reggae band led by 4x Grammy Award winner Peter deAquino.

### Saturday, August 22, 2026
- **LOS LOBOS** (Headliner) — Legendary band formed in 1973. Multiple Grammy winners. Known for "La Bamba," *How Will the Wolf Survive?*, *Kiko*, and *Native Sons* (2022 Grammy for Best Americana Album).
- **Special Guest: Alejandro Escovedo** — Performing with Los Lobos.
- **What Mongoose?** — MMFE's homegrown aloha supergroup featuring:
  - **Lisa Fischer** — Grammy-winning vocalist; longtime collaborator with The Rolling Stones, Luther Vandross, Sting, and Tina Turner. Featured in Oscar-winning documentary *Twenty Feet From Stardom*.
  - **Nicholas Tremulis 3** — Chicago-based musician and producer known as "the music mayor of Chicago." Has collaborated with Keith Richards, Bonnie Raitt, and Mavis Staples.
  - **Robert Irving III** — Chicago-born pianist and composer; Miles Davis' musical director throughout the 1980s. Chicago Music Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient.
  - **Naiwi Teruya** — Maui ukulele phenom.
- **Kanekoa** — Hawaii's premier ukulele-powered Hawaiian jam-rock band, performing for 28 years.

## Food Experience

Curated by Executive Chef Zach Laidlaw of Hua Momona Farms. Chef Laidlaw was Runner-Up on Next Level Chef Season 3 (Gordon Ramsay) and has appeared on Chopped. Six chef stations overlooking the Pacific Ocean, celebrating fresh, local Maui ingredients.

## Related Organizations

- **Hua Momona Foundation** — The nonprofit beneficiary of MMFE. Has served nearly 100,000 hot, fresh meals to those impacted by the Lahaina fires. Focused on agriculture, food security, mental health, housing, and youth music programs. https://www.huamomonafarms.com/huamomonafoundation
- **Hua Momona Farms** — https://www.huamomonafarms.com/
- **RISE Maui** — A related conference (August 17–22, 2026) focused on Regeneration, Innovation, and Sustainability, held at Hua Momona Farm and Hyatt Regency Maui. RISE attendees receive 2-day MMFE passes. 2026 keynote speaker: Dr. Sasha Luccioni (AI & Climate Change). https://rise-maui.org/

## Social Media

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577616868907
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauimusicandfoodexperience/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MauiMusicandFoodExperience

## Site Pages

- Home: https://mauimusicandfoodexperience.org/
- Music / Artists: https://mauimusicandfoodexperience.org/music/
- Food: https://mauimusicandfoodexperience.org/food/
- News / Blog: https://mauimusicandfoodexperience.org/blog-list/
- Events: https://mauimusicandfoodexperience.org/events/