Whalers Village Maui Onion Festival

Learn more about the sweet Kula Maui onion at Whalers Village’s 21st annual Maui Onion Festival.

Dedicated to the cultivation and promotion of the world-famous Maui Kula Onion, the Maui Onion Festival has been a signature event at Whalers Village since 1990. It’s attended by thousands of visitors and residents every year and features a number of different activities, entertainment, food booths and more.

The festival starts on Friday, April 30^th from 6 to 8:30 p.m. with a special three-course Maui Onion Pairing Dinner at Hale Aina Award-winning restaurant, Hula Grill. Dishes served will utilize the onion as an ingredient and will be paired with beer.

Tickets to this event are sold by Hula Grill. Call 808-667-6636 for more information.

Then on Saturday, May 1^st, the festival gets into full gear with a host of fun activities appropriate for the whole family. Highlights include both keiki and adult raw onion eating contests, special cooking demonstrations and a recipe contest in which five Hale Aina Award-winning chefs will compete to see who’s recipe comes out best.

Chef James McDonald demonstrates his recipe using the Maui onion.
Photo: David Croxford

Cooking Demonstrations and Recipe Contest

Hale Aina Award-winning chefs David Paul Johnson, James McDonald, D.K. Kodama, Roy Yamaguchi and Russell Siu will all participate in this year’s festival, offering recipes and putting their own recipes to the test in a special contest.

Here’s the schedule of demos:

Russell Siu, 3660 on the Rise – 10 a.m.

DK Kodama, Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar – 11 a.m.

David Paul, David Paul’s Island Grill (formerly of David Paul’s Lahaina Grill) – 1 p.m.

James McDonald, Pacific’O and I’O Restaurants – 5 p.m.

Roy Yamaguchi, Roy’s Restaurants – 6 p.m.

The recipe contest in which all of these chefs will enter their best Maui Onion recipe to compete for the title of BEST Maui Onion Recipe, will take place at 3 p.m.

The festival itself is free and open to the public. Activities start at 9:30 a.m.

For information, contact Whalers Village at 808-661-4567 or e-mail info@whalersvillage.com