Hawaii is becoming a popular destination for food lovers, thanks to events like the Second Annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, which wound up this weekend on Oahu.

For four days, folks got to savor some amazing delicacies, and mingle with more than 60 master chefs from around the world. Some have become local, national or international celebrities, known for hosting cooking shows on TV.

One of them is “Iron Chef ” Masaharu Morimoto. He hosted the festival’s opening night event at the Modern Honolulu hotel in Waikiki, where his restaurant, Morimoto Waikiki, is located. And created some pretty tasty shrimp tacos.

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto | Photo © Heidi Chang

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Kudos go to Hawai‘i’s own James Beard Award-winning chefs, Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong, who co-founded the festival. In addition to all the wine and spirit producers, the event showcases some of Hawaii’s top island chefs, including Chai Chaowasree of Chai’s Island Bistro.

Hawaii chef Chai Chaowasaree | Photo © Heidi Chang

All the chefs use only the freshest, local ingredients, featuring Hawaii’s bounty of produce, meat and seafood. Chai’s Island Bistro served up some awesome Hawaiian abalone, melt-in-your-mouth kine!

Chai’s Island Bistro Abalone | Photo © Heidi Chang

Other innovative chefs like Ming Tsai, known for his restaurant Blue Ginger in Wellesley, Massachusetts, prepared some ono ahi on foie fried rice.

Ming Tsai’s Blue Ginger serves up ahi | Photo © Heidi Chang

Festival organizers say some of the proceeds from the event will help support local farmers and students, including those who’ll attend the new Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head. It aims to train a whole new generation of chefs from all over the world and Hawaii. That’s great news for foodies, and those who grow and produce our island food.