2021 Virtual Food Summit

The Maui Nui Food Alliance (MNFA) hosted the MNFA Virtual Food Summit on October 5 and 6, 2021. Over 60 Maui Nui residents – including farmers, ranchers, food retailers, educators, public health professionals and representatives from Department of Health and the Maui County Council­ – participated in the event, which was held virtually on Zoom.

The Maui Nui Food Alliance formed in October 2019 and is an important part of expanding Maui County’s local food system to nourish and sustain the people of Maui Nui while fostering human, environmental and economic health. 

The Virtual Food Summit focused on the growth of the Maui Nui Food Alliance's subcommittees, working groups and projects, including their Food System Needs Assessment for 2021-2022. The Virtual Food Summit was facilitated by the National Food Policy Expert for Blue Zones Project, Dr. Maggi Adamek, who supported the Maui Nui Food Allianceʻs foundational 2019 gathering. At the first day of the Virtual Food Summit, participants were joined by guest speakers Hōkūao Pellegrino of Nohoʻana Farm and Kamehameha Schools, Charity Hartman of the Maui Food Bank, and Harmonee Williams of the Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance.

The Maui Nui Food Alliance hosted Maui County Council Member Kelly King and keynote speaker Mahina Paishon-Duarte on the second day of the two-day Virtual Food Summit. Mahina Paishon-Duarte is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Waiwai Collective and the founding executive director of Paepae o Heʻeia, the first modern Hawaiian fishpond that created ground-breaking ʻāina-based education programming for students from preschool through post-doctoral levels. Today, Mahina is a part of the ʻĀina Aloha Economic Futures movement to bring to life a resilient economy through our core value of ʻāina aloha—a deep and abiding love for Hawaii’s communities and natural environments.

Below, find the Virtual Food Summit program and report, outlining each day of the Summit and ways to get involved with the Maui Nui Food Alliance.