Taste of Hilo 2025 returns on Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Hilo’s Sangha Hall, celebrating 27 years of island flavors, local producers, and community giving in support of Hawaiʻi Community College’s Culinary Arts program and workforce development. Organized by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaiʻi (JCCIH), the 27th Annual A Taste of Hilo showcases more than 30 food and beverage vendors, an ingredient spotlight, and a weeklong silent auction running October 13–19 to boost scholarships, facilities, and program growth at Hawaiʻi CC.
What it is
A Taste of Hilo is East Hawaiʻi’s longest-running culinary fundraiser, launched in 1998 to champion local restaurants, farms, and beverage makers while investing directly in culinary education and careers on Hawaiʻi Island. Guests graze through sweet and savory stations crafted by chefs, bakeries, and specialty purveyors, plus sample locally crafted beer, wine, and sake, with Hawaiʻi CC culinary students hosting a food station to gain hands-on experience while meeting the community they will serve. Over the years, event proceeds have funded scholarships and program enhancements that strengthen the island’s culinary pipeline, including recent contributions highlighted by the University of Hawaiʻi as essential to student success.
Date, time, and venue
- Sunday, October 19, 2025, 1:00–3:00 p.m., at Hilo Honpa Hongwanji’s Sangha Hall, a central venue that comfortably hosts tasting stations, beverage booths, and community programming in a single, easily accessed space near Downtown Hilo.
- Silent Auction: October 13–19, featuring gift certificates, local products, and experiences; proceeds support JCCIH’s annual donations to Hawaiʻi CC and related education initiatives island-wide.
What’s new for 2025
The 27th Annual edition debuts an expanded Fuji event concept, adding early entry privileges and exclusive chef-led offerings for premium ticket holders, along with designated on-site perks and a curated menu that complements the main tasting floor. This builds on a format tested in 2024 that spotlighted a featured chef in a dedicated Fuji section, offering 30-minute early access and a separate set of dishes and drinks that attendees could revisit throughout the afternoon. Expect similar enhanced experiences in 2025, now formalized as a “NEW! Fuji Event” on the official program.
Vendors and ingredient spotlight
Taste of Hilo handpicks participants to reflect the island’s rich food landscape, blending legacy favorites with rising talent and innovative beverage makers. Past lineups have included Any Kine Wontons, Atebara Chips, Hawaiʻi CC Culinary Arts Program, Islander Sake Brewery Hawaiʻi, Hilo Yacht Club, Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Co., Sweet Cane Café, Tetsumen, Volcano Winery, and more, with large distributors and craft brands pouring alongside small-batch producers for a full-spectrum tasting experience. Each year also highlights a local ingredient that anchors menu creativity, with past features ranging from Big Island abalone and kampachi to sturgeon, pasture-raised beef, and bluefin tuna, giving attendees a new lens on local sourcing and flavor traditions.
Community impact
Taste of Hilo is a fundraiser first and foremost, with JCCIH channeling proceeds to Hawaiʻi CC’s Culinary Arts program for scholarships, facility improvements, and program development, creating a direct bridge between community support and student opportunities. The University of Hawaiʻi reports fresh donations in 2025 that will provide scholarships and other funding for culinary students, underscoring the event’s continuity and long-term impact on workforce readiness and culinary excellence in East Hawaiʻi. JCCIH’s ethos of Kahiau (giving without expectation) and Okage Sama De (I am what I am because of you) drives the event’s collaborative spirit and commitment to local education and industry.
Tickets and ways to support
- General admission details and ticketing links are provided via the official A Taste of Hilo site; premium access for the Fuji event offers early entry and exclusive chef-driven tastings, with on-site perks highlighted on the event page.
- Donors, sponsors, and vendors can participate through the JCCIH portal and event sponsorship page, with instructions for silent auction contributions (gift certificates, products, services) that expand fundraising impact throughout the week leading into the event.
How the afternoon flows
Most attendees arrive right at 1:00 p.m. for a smooth circuit through tasting tables, usually starting with savory bites and moving to desserts before revisiting standout stations. Beverage booths pour throughout, so alternating food tastings with sips keeps palates fresh. Expect plenty of familiar classics and inventive takes that showcase island produce and culinary craft, plus a featured area for Fuji event ticketholders to enjoy special dishes and drinks without missing the main floor action.
Travel tips and planning
- Where to stay: Downtown Hilo and Banyan Drive offer easy access to Sangha Hall and local eateries, with oceanfront hotels and cozy inns ideal for a culinary weekend anchored by the Sunday event.
- Getting around: Sangha Hall’s central location and ample neighborhood parking make arrivals straightforward; plan a mid-morning arrival if volunteering or assisting with auction previews.
- Weather: October in Hilo is warm with potential passing showers; a light jacket and comfortable shoes are recommended for browsing stations and auction displays.
- Before and after: Make a weekend of it with farmers’ market visits, a stop at Hawaiʻi CC’s bakery counter on campus when open, and tastings at local craft producers like Islander Sake Brewery or Volcano Winery, both of which frequently appear at Taste of Hilo.
Volunteer and student involvement
Hawaiʻi CC culinary students host a food station and interact with guests, practicing service, presentation, and guest engagement in a live setting while showcasing program skills and pride. Community volunteers and JCCIH members coordinate the silent auction, vendor logistics, and guest hospitality, reflecting a broad network of support that has kept Taste of Hilo thriving for more than a quarter-century.
Why it matters now
A Taste of Hilo stands at the intersection of culture, cuisine, and community—an afternoon of small bites and big impact that preserves traditions while fueling innovation in East Hawaiʻi’s food scene. Every ticket and auction bid supports the next generation of chefs, instructors, and food entrepreneurs who will shape the island’s culinary identity in the years ahead. For visitors, it’s a compact, curated way to taste the Island of Hawaiʻi’s flavor diversity in one place; for residents, it’s a beloved annual ritual that lifts local talent and keeps resources circulating within the community.
Mark the calendar for Sunday, October 19, 2025, and be first in line when tickets open. Explore general admission and Fuji event options, preview the silent auction from October 13–19, and come hungry to Sangha Hall for an afternoon that celebrates Hilo’s tastemakers while investing in Hawaiʻi CC’s culinary future. Start with the official site to secure tickets or contribute to the auction, and get ready to experience why A Taste of Hilo has been the island’s most enduring culinary tradition since 1998.