Guests will vote for their favorite short films, sharing the stories behind the locally sourced dishes. The films are made by students in grades 7-12 from Maui Huliau’s filmmaking program.

KIHEI – Maui Huliau Foundation, a nonprofit organization offering environmental education programs to Maui youth, will host its fifth annual farm-to-table benefit celebration and food-focused film festival at Sugar Beach Events’ beautiful oceanfront venue in Kihei on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Event sponsors include Pacific Biodiesel, Blue Ginger Hawaii, CDF Engineering and Sustainable Pacific Consulting.

The event will feature 12 chef stations; a cash bar of locally produced cocktails, beer and wine; live music; a food-themed student film contest; and an impressive array of silent auction items, including hotel stays and gift certificates to Maui’s top restaurants.

The locally sourced bar will feature signature cocktails with Organic Ocean Vodka and Deep Island Hawaiian Rum, a selection of Maui Brewing Company’s brews and wines by Maui Wine. Vitali-Tea Kombucha Maui is also providing kombucha made from locally sourced ingredients.

Live music performances include Bentley Kalaway and Keith Ranney who have performed at the event the past four years, as well as Hawaiian steel guitar player Joel Katz.

The annual benefit will be held at Sugar Beach Events’ oceanfront venue in Kihei on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Guests will vote for their favorite short films, sharing the stories behind the locally sourced dishes, made by event chefs, which are made by students in grades 7-12 from Maui Huliau’s filmmaking program.

In addition to the student films made for the competition, Maui Huliau Foundation will also screen a couple favorite films from this past year’s filmmaking program.

“We believe that the key to preserving Hawaii’s sustainability rests in the education of our keiki,” said Jennifer Chirico, president of Sustainable Pacific Consulting LLC. “We support Maui Huliau’s mission and are proud to sponsor this event.”

Top chefs on Maui, including Isaac Bancaco of Andaz Maui at Wailea, John Cadman of Pono Pies, Eric Morrissette of Fleetwood’s on Front St., Lee Anderson of Sugar Beach Events, Gary Johnson of Hana Ranch, Kyle Kawakami of Maui Fresh Streatery, Ahren Uyeda of Miso Phat, Jacquelyn Torres of The Wooden Crate at Lumeria, Maja Liotta of Lilikoi Creations, Tiffany Ward of Maui Catering Services and private chefs Sabra Ricci and Carol Wallack, will serve fresh, locally inspired small plates and desserts.

“Of all the places in the world to be a chef, Maui has got to be the finest,” said Chef Maja Liotta of Lilikoi Creations.

“Like an artist with an unlimited number of mediums to create art, Maui’s array of produce – in quality, color and diversity – encourages us to create dishes of limitless beauty and flavor. Educating Maui’s youth about the importance of sustainability and environmental education is so vital and will have ripple effects on our community for generations. This is truly a cause worth supporting!”

The Huliau Food & Film Festival will be held to guests 21 and over only. Tickets are $110, including access to all chef stations and one complimentary drink, and are available to purchase online at www.mauihuliaufoundation.org/huliau-food-film-festival.

There is also a Facebook event page at www.facebook.com/events/2042360702757464/, so you can help spread the word.

All proceeds will benefit environmental education programs for youth on Maui, including the Huliau Environmental Filmmaking Club, the alumni-organized Huliau Eco-Adventure summer program, the new Huliau Outdoor Leadership Council and student projects in the areas of climate change, marine debris prevention and local sustainable agriculture.