Unforgettable Performances From Bernard Fowler of the Rolling Stones, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk with Special Guests Ernie Isley, Mick Fleetwood & More
Chicago Show on November 7th Follows Maui’s Sold-Out Success
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Photo Credit: J Anthony Martinez
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Ernie Isley
Photo Credit: J Anthony Martinez
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August 18, 2025 (Maui, HI) — The Hua Momona Foundation (HMF), responsible for serving over 80,000 hot, fresh meals to date for those impacted by the Lahaina Fires, celebrated their second annual Maui Music and Food Experience (MMFE), on Friday, August 15th and Saturday, August 16th at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa.
MMFE raised over $200,000 for HMF’s on-island charitable efforts, which include distributing fresh local produce and hot meals, facilitating housing replacement, supporting mental healthcare programs, and cultivating a new West Maui youth music program, the Hua Momona Youth Ukulele Ensemble and Music Program. To kick off the celebration, HMF hosted a benefit dinner at Hua Momona Farm on August 13th featuring chefs and musicians from the tour, along with an exciting auction and paddle raise, cultivating over $100k for the foundation.
Founder of Hua Momona Foundation and Farm, Gary Grube, said: “Maui has once again shown us a tremendous amount of aloha, showing up in full force for the final night, which was a sellout."
MMFE’s Festival Director Anthony Moseley said: “The Maui Music and Food Experience demonstrated the healing powers of music, food, and community. We are honored to be joined by so many talented artists and chefs who have become a part of our ohana. The Hua Momona Foundation is committed to Lahaina’s recovery and thrilled to be launching a new youth music program as the next phase in our vision for holistic development.”
With over 1,000 guests across the two nights, the event welcomed exhilarating fan favorites each night, including the Hawaiian National Heritage Award-winning slack-key guitarist Led Kaapana, the powerful pairing of What Mongoose? (The Rolling Stones contributor Bernard Fowler, Nicholas Tremulis, and Naiwi Teruya), Hawaiian icon Paula Fuga (Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley collaborator), the women-dominated group Maui Taiko Drums, and an explosive, conclusive performance from Kanekoa on Friday, August 15.
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Nicholas Tremulis & Bernard Fowler of What Mongoose?
Photo Credit: J Anthony Martinez
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On Saturday’s sold-out show, the event featured Hawaii's Reggae Ambassador Marty Dread, chef and musician Frank Orrall (of Poi Dog Pondering and Thievery Corporation), beloved Hawaiian artist Tavana, and Maui-based band Brown Chicken Brown Cow. To close out the night, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk was joined by special guests Mick Fleetwood, Ernie Isley, Bernard Fowler, and Wayne Baker Brooks for a lively Jimi Hendrix tribute.
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Mick Fleetwood joined headliners Dumpstaphunk to play his talking drum
Photo Credit: J Anthony Martinez
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Dumpstaphunk, Ernie Isley, and Mick Fleetwood
Photo Credit: J Anthony Martinez
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“It’s amazing that people on the level of Ernie, Ivan, Bernard, Mick Fleetwood, and more artists from the mainland put their talents together to support Lahaina,” said Tavana, an Oahu-born performing artist. “Not only are the people of Maui coming together, but people from around the world are coming together. I’m really thankful to be a part of that.”
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Tavana
Photo Credit: J Anthony Martinez
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In addition to musical performances, the event also spotlighted celebrated chefs and their culinary artistry, led by local Hua Momona Farm Chef Zach Laidlaw, a champion of sustainable agriculture and immersive dining whose standout performance as a finalist on Next Level Chef highlighted his deep connection to Maui’s land and flavors. Joining him was Next Level Chef Season 3 winner Gabrielle Chappel, World Rice Champion Chef Ryan Von Smith (Chef Von), Wailea Beach Resort’s Charles Andres, chef and musician Frank Orrall, and Pastry Chef Hannah Stanchfield.
Maui Music and Food Experience Signature Dishes included:
- Chef Zach’s Sesame Seed Crusted Ahi
- Chef Gabi’s Stir-Fried Mushroom Saimin
- Chef Von’s Wagyu Beef & Truffle Loco Moco over Fried Rice
- Chef Charles’ Cabbage Wrapped Fresh Catch
- Chef Frank’s Kula Pork Plate
- Chef Hannah’s Cannoli & Cream Puff Station: Ube-Vanilla Bean, Passion Fruit Curd, Dark Chocolate, and Coconut Custard
“This event has shown me how to stay positive and keep pushing forward," said Chef Zach Laidlaw, Executive Chef and Head Farmer, Hua Momona Farms. "We’re all in this together. It’s all about community and collaboration."
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Left: Chef Zach Laidlaw’s Sesame Seed Crusted Ahi | Right: Chef Zach Laidlaw
Photo Credit: J Anthony Martinez
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Following the success of Maui’s event this year, MMFE is expanding to Chicago on November 7, 2025 — bringing a taste of the islands and the spirit of aloha to new audiences (more details to come).
MMFE is executive-produced by The Hua Momona Foundation and ESP Presents. Straight Arrow Productions served as the production coordinator and talent buyer. Sponsors include Hyatt Regency, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, D’Addario, Volcano Wasabi, Ocean Organic Vodka, and The Will Smith Foundation.
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HUA MOMONA FOUNDATION AND MAUI MUSIC AND FOOD EXPERIENCE ON THE WEB
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ABOUT HUA MOMONA FOUNDATION
The Hua Momona Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded by the team at Hua Momona Farms to support the Maui community. The Foundation's mission includes providing food, facilitating replacement housing, supporting mental healthcare programs, and hosting fundraising events to benefit local residents. Hua Momona Farms is located on 25 acres in West Maui, 1300 ft above sea level with a jaw-dropping view of the neighboring island of Molokai. The farm grows fresh, organic microgreens and more from our elevated oasis. The Hua Momona Foundation supports on-island charitable efforts through agricultural activities, providing hot meals, distributing fresh local produce, facilitating housing replacement, supporting mental healthcare programs, and is now launching the Hua Momona Youth Ukulele Ensemble and Music Program with teenagers from Lahaina. To date, the foundation has served over 80,000 hot, fresh meals to those impacted by the Lahaina Fires.
ABOUT ESP PRESENTS
ESP Presents is a boutique event production firm that creates innovation-driven, experiential events. They are proud to work alongside artists, brands, agencies, and nonprofit organizations, both big and small. They become a hands-on extension of partnering teams, bringing together the industry's best resources to execute your event vision at the highest levels.
ABOUT STRAIGHT ARROW PRODUCTIONS:
Straight Arrow Productions is a Chicago-based full-service Music Production House. Providing full show production, talent coordination, tour and artist management, recording, and staging services, Straight Arrow Productions has been working with world-class artists since 1982.
ABOUT HYATT REGENCY MAUI RESORT & SPA
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is a AAA Four Diamond-rated hotel offering everything desired for an unforgettable getaway in paradise. Ideally situated on 40 oceanfront acres on world famous Ka’anapali Beach, voted “#1 Beach in the U.S. Traveler’s Choice” by TripAdvisor and ranked in the top 10 of the 2025 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards “Top 25 Resorts in Hawaii”, this resort features an expansive open-air atrium lobby, three towers, and 810 re-imagined guestrooms, including 31 suites. Each guestroom is well-appointed with authentic Hawaiian touches, elegant furnishings, modern finishes, open closets, and private balconies with glass railings to enjoy breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and west Maui sunsets. This LEED-EBOM Gold Certified resort is a standout in world class hospitality and truly offers something for everyone: rooftop astronomy program; beachfront free-form pool with a 150-foot lava tube water slide; children’s splash pool; oceanfront daybeds and cabanas, beach activities; manicured tropical grounds; daily Hawaiian cultural activities; wildlife tours; tennis; pickleball; championship golf; 100,000 square feet of event space for meetings or destination weddings; retail boutiques; 24-hour fitness center; daily outdoor yoga and fitness classes; Maui’s only oceanfront full-service spa and salon; live entertainment including the on-site Drums of the Pacific Lu‘au; and ten food and beverage offerings, such as the award-winning restaurant Japengo.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
HuaMomonaFoundationPR@shorefire.com
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