Kauai Poke Fest

The 2026 Kauaʻi Poke Fest® was one for the books.

From the incredible talent showcased by our competitors to the hundreds of guests who joined us in celebrating Hawaiʻi’s rich fishing and culinary traditions, this year’s event exceeded every expectation. We extend our heartfelt mahalo to our chefs, judges, sponsors, volunteers, vendors, entertainers, our nonprofit partners, and every attendee who helped make this year’s festival such a memorable success. Your passion, generosity, and aloha are what make Kauaʻi Poke Fest so special. Together, we celebrated amazing food, supported an important cause, and created memories that will last long after the last bowl of poke was served.

Congratulations to all of this year’s competitors for their extraordinary creativity and craftsmanship. We are proud to recognize our Top 10 Overall Winners below. Whether you took home a trophy or simply shared your passion with our community, each competitor helped raise the bar for poke in Hawaiʻi. Mahalo again to everyone who made the 2026 Kauaʻi Poke Fest possible. We can’t wait to welcome you back next year for an even bigger celebration of Hawaiʻi’s finest chefs, fishermen, and local flavors.

1st Place
Ali’i Momona Poke
by Justin Firmignac

2nd Place
Hawaiian BBQ Poke Bowl
by Franco Abero III

3rd Place
Reel Aloha Poke & Fish Co.
by Mana’o Alu

4th Place | Ono You Didn’t by Meghann Matsuda
5th Place | Ai me ka i’a (Fish & Poi) by Don Gusman
6th Place | Double Happiness by Pauline Lam
7th Place | Poke Ban Xeo by Grecean Manuel
8th Place | Warm Shrimp Poke by Mark Oyama
9th Place | Pastele Poke by Ash Danao
10th Place | Black Tide Poke by Kenneth Giambalvo

And a special mahalo to our judges and Masters’ Table chefs for making the 2026 Poke Fest® such a success.

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