Overview

The 5th Annual Ka Maiʻa Hoʻolauleʻa Banana Festival returns to Windward Community College for a celebration of Hawaiʻi’s diverse banana varieties, culinary traditions, and cultural practices. Hosted by Slow Food Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Banana Source, the festival invites attendees to sample unique banana varieties and dishes from island chefs while learning new ways to grow, cook with, and appreciate maiʻa.

Guests can enjoy banana tastings, cultural demonstrations, hands-on activities, shopping, and the return of the Great Banana Cook-off featuring creative banana-inspired dishes from home and professional cooks. Festival highlights include banana fiber T-shirt printing, lauhala and banana fiber weaving demonstrations, traditional Samoan kapa dyeing using fe‘i banana sap, and a special lecture by Hawaiʻi Banana Source owner Gabe Sachter-Smith on banana history, culinary traditions, and growing practices.

Event Highlights:
• Banana tastings featuring multiple varieties
• Chef-prepared banana dish samples
• Banana fiber T-shirt printing (bring your own shirt or purchase one onsite)
• Lauhala and banana fiber weaving demonstrations
• Traditional kapa dyeing demonstration using banana sap
• The Great Banana Cook-off competition
• Banana plants, books, and merchandise for sale
• Special presentation by Gabe Sachter-Smith at 1:00 PM

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