BrunchFest 2026 Recap: A K-Pop–Inspired Sunday Filled with Flavor and Fun

A high-energy, K-pop–inspired brunch experience featuring O‘ahu’s top restaurants, bottomless bites and bold Sunday style.

1 hour ago

HONOLULU Branded Content Team,

Brunch lovers showed up in full force for this year’s BrunchFest presented by First Hawaiian Bank and Mastercard, turning a Sunday morning into one of the most flavorful—and fashionable—events of the season. Held at the Ho‘okupu Center, the 2026 edition brought together some of O‘ahu’s top culinary talent for a vibrant, K-pop–inspired celebration of all things brunch.

From the moment VIP guests entered early, the energy was set. Think bold street style, K-pop beats and a buzzing crowd ready to eat. When doors opened for general admission, the space quickly transformed into a lively tasting experience where food, fashion and fun collided.

A lineup worth waking up for

This year’s event featured a standout roster of restaurants, including Kapa Hale, Smith & Kings, Café Kaila, Over Easy and Hau Tree—plus additional tastings from partners like CU Hawai‘i and a crowd-favorite ramyun station by Ho‘okupu Center.

Guests made their way from station to station, sampling everything from elevated local comfort food to fresh, creative brunch bites that showcased the diversity of Hawai‘i’s food scene.

Bottomless bites and brunch sips

No brunch is complete without drinks, and BrunchFest delivered. Guests enjoyed bottomless Bloody Marys, mimosas, coffee creations and more—perfect pairings for the endless stream of sweet and savory dishes.

More than just a meal

Beyond the food, BrunchFest brought the full experience. Guests snapped photos at interactive activations, tested their luck at the claw machine and caught high-energy performances from K-pop dancers, all set to a live DJ spinning crowd-favorite tracks.

The result? A high-energy, fully immersive brunch party that went far beyond the plate.

A stylish Sunday scene

True to theme, attendees showed up in their best K-pop-inspired looks—think bold colors, layered streetwear and statement accessories. The indoor-outdoor setting at Ho‘okupu Center, right on the Kewalo Basin waterfront, made for the perfect breezy backdrop to see and be seen.

A celebration of community

At its core, BrunchFest is about bringing people together—and this year delivered. Friends gathered over shared plates, new connections were made and O‘ahu’s culinary community was on full display.

Mahalo to our title sponsors, First Hawaiian Bank and Mastercard, for helping bring this experience to life, and to our food distribution partners Y. Hata & Co., ChefZone and The Inspired Chef for supporting the chefs behind the scenes.

Most importantly, mahalo to everyone who joined us—your energy, style and appetite made this year’s BrunchFest unforgettable.

Until next year—keep brunching.