Taste & Tunes 2026

Taste & Tunes 2026 Maui is a relaxed open-air evening of locally inspired food, craft drinks, and live music under the Upcountry stars, scheduled for February 12, 2026 at OCEAN Organic Farm & Distillery. As part of Pacific Whale Foundation’s World Whale Day 2026 week of events, Taste & Tunes adds an island food-and-music celebration to a schedule that honors whales, ocean conservation, and Maui community connection.

Taste & Tunes 2026 Maui: what the event is

Taste & Tunes is a Maui island gathering hosted during World Whale Day week by Pacific Whale Foundation, designed as a “relaxed open-air evening” featuring locally inspired food, craft drinks, and live music. The event takes place at OCEAN Organic Farm & Distillery, an Upcountry venue known for open skies and rural Maui scenery, making it ideal for a night that feels both social and distinctly island. For visitors, this is the kind of Maui experience that blends culture and conservation without feeling like a formal fundraiser dinner.

Pacific Whale Foundation’s World Whale Day 2026 page frames the week as a celebration of the organization’s 45th anniversary and a series of events across Maui that honor marine conservation, cultural traditions, and community connection. Taste & Tunes fits that mission by bringing people together in a way that feels easy: good flavors, good music, and an island setting that invites conversation.

Confirmed 2026 date and venue

Taste & Tunes is listed on Pacific Whale Foundation’s World Whale Day 2026 schedule as taking place on February 12, 2026 at OCEAN Organic Farm & Distillery. The same schedule notes that the evening includes live performances by Tavana and the John Cruz Trio. This confirmation is especially useful for travelers planning a Maui itinerary around whale season, since it provides a fixed date that can anchor lodging and transportation plans.

An additional Pacific Whale Foundation events listing references Taste & Tunes at OCEAN Organic Farm & Distillery in mid-February 2026 within the World Whale Day programming context, reinforcing that it is part of the week’s lineup. For accurate timing and any updates, Pacific Whale Foundation’s World Whale Day page remains the best source to monitor as the date approaches.

Why Taste & Tunes belongs on an island itinerary

Maui is famous for ocean adventures, but some of the most memorable island travel moments happen on land, especially Upcountry where the air is cooler and the night sky feels bigger. Taste & Tunes is explicitly positioned as an open-air evening under the stars, which matches what many travelers crave after a day of snorkeling, whale watching, or hiking. It’s also a strong way to experience Maui’s local creative side, because the event centers on music and food rather than a strictly lecture-style conservation program.

Taste & Tunes is also woven into a bigger whale-season celebration, which makes it feel purposeful instead of just another night out. Attending supports a local nonprofit’s conservation mission while still delivering the kind of island atmosphere visitors want: relaxed, welcoming, and rooted in place.

Food, drinks, and live music highlights

Pacific Whale Foundation describes Taste & Tunes as featuring “locally inspired food” and “craft drinks,” which signals an experience influenced by island-grown ingredients and Maui’s farm-to-glass culture. Because the venue is OCEAN Organic Farm & Distillery, the craft drink element is a natural fit, especially for travelers who enjoy tasting local spirits and learning about what the island produces. The open-air format also means the evening is designed for mingling, sampling, and moving through the space at an unhurried Upcountry pace.

On the music side, the lineup is clearly stated: Tavana and the John Cruz Trio will provide live music for the night. That’s an especially Maui way to experience an event, because music under the stars is part of what makes island evenings feel different from mainland nightlife.

What the vibe feels like

This is not positioned as a black-tie gala. It’s described as relaxed and open-air, which suggests casual island attire, a social layout, and a mix of locals and visitors enjoying Maui’s creative energy. Because it sits within World Whale Day week, it also attracts people who care about the ocean, which often makes conversations more interesting and more connected.

The World Whale Day connection (and why it matters)

Taste & Tunes is part of World Whale Day 2026, which Pacific Whale Foundation describes as a week of events across Maui that honor marine conservation and cultural traditions. The same page states the organization is celebrating its 45th anniversary during the 2026 week, giving these events an added milestone significance. Travelers who attend Taste & Tunes can pair it with other listed week events such as the World Whale Film Festival (February 11, 2026) and additional gatherings later in the week.

Pacific Whale Foundation also offers ticketing structures that include bundles and a “Package for Two” covering multiple evenings, explicitly including Taste & Tunes among the bundle’s events. If traveling as a couple or with a friend, bundling can turn the trip into a themed Maui week: whales, ocean stories, music, and island food all in one itinerary.

Maui Upcountry travel tips for event night

OCEAN Organic Farm & Distillery is an Upcountry venue, so plan transportation in advance, especially if sampling craft drinks. Visitors staying in Kihei, Wailea, Lahaina area resorts, or Kahului should allow extra travel time because Upcountry roads can be slower at night and parking may be busier when special events are happening. Bringing a light layer is smart because Upcountry evenings can feel cooler than South Maui beaches, particularly when you are outside under the stars.

Make the most of your drive by arriving early enough to enjoy the venue setting before the main music portion starts, since the open-air environment is part of what the event is selling. If building a weeklong island trip, Taste & Tunes fits well after daytime ocean activities, creating a satisfying day-to-night rhythm.

Tickets and pricing: what is confirmed

Pacific Whale Foundation’s World Whale Day 2026 page lists Taste & Tunes and notes “TICKETS COMING SOON!” indicating ticketing is planned but pricing and purchase details may not be fully released in the public listing yet. The same page confirms that guests can buy tickets by choosing individual events, building a bundle, or purchasing a “Package for Two,” and it explicitly names Taste & Tunes as one of the bundled events. However, no confirmed ticket price for Taste & Tunes 2026 is displayed in the available source content.

For the most accurate pricing once released, use Pacific Whale Foundation’s official World Whale Day 2026 ticket links and updates. If planning budgets now, estimate for event tickets plus Upcountry transportation and consider extending your stay to attend multiple World Whale Day week activities.

Make Taste & Tunes 2026 part of your Maui whale-season week

Taste & Tunes 2026 is a Maui island night that balances everything travelers love about Hawaiʻi: food, music, open skies, and a sense of community purpose. With a confirmed date of February 12, 2026 at OCEAN Organic Farm & Distillery and live music from Tavana and the John Cruz Trio, it’s an easy choice for visitors who want more than beach time on their itinerary. Watch Pacific Whale Foundation for ticket updates, plan your Upcountry evening, and step into a Maui celebration that feels as warm and memorable as the island itself.

Verified Information at glance

Event Name: Taste & Tunes

Event Category: Food and live music event (World Whale Day week gathering)

Host/Organizer: Pacific Whale Foundation (as part of World Whale Day 2026 week)

Confirmed Date (2026): February 12, 2026

Confirmed Island Location: Maui, Hawaiʻi

Confirmed Venue: OCEAN Organic Farm & Distillery (Upcountry Maui)

Confirmed Program Elements: Locally inspired food, craft drinks, live music under the stars

Confirmed Artists: Tavana; John Cruz Trio

Ticketing Status: Ticketed event with “Tickets coming soon” noted on the official schedule; bundles and “Package for Two” options referenced

Pricing: Ticket prices not confirmed in the available official schedule content