Global Breadfruit Summit

An international convening of farmers, researchers, cultural leaders, makers, and innovators working to shape the future of breadfruit.
About this Event

Join us September 22–24, 2026 at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i Island for an international convening of farmers, researchers, cultural leaders, makers, and innovators working to shape the future of breadfruit!

One registration covers all three days of the Summit, includes daily breakfast and refreshments. Early bird pricing ($50 off) ends June 30 — tickets rise to $300 on July 1.

The Global Breadfruit Summit, hosted by the University of Hawaii, is an international convening of farmers, researchers, cultural leaders, makers, and innovators working to shape the future of breadfruit. The Summit aims to amplify the knowledge, priorities, and lived experiences of breadfruit practitioners, with the goal of not only facilitating the sharing and documentation of knowledge but also supporting the development of strong relationships that span across disciplines and regions – advancing community efforts to build resilient food, agricultural, and economic systems worldwide.

We are also thrilled to launch our collaboration with David Shepard Aloha Shirts, available exclusively for conference attendees at a steep discount with your early bird registration. Orders can be placed at checkout for 33% off ($80 reduced from $125) outside of our registration sales.

Need support to attend? Cost shouldn't be a barrier. If you'd like to request a scholarship or sponsored spot, please complete this short form: Scholarship Request.

Conference participants are encouraged to stay for the duration of the 2026 ʻUlu Hoʻolauleʻa or Breadfruit Celebration, a weeklong series of events celebrating this ancestral crop and its history in South Kona, Hawaiʻi Island. Please be sure to secure your hotel stay via our room block at the Outrigger Kona via this link: Global Breadfruit Summit - Room Block Web Link

The 2026 Breadfruit Celebration’s weeklong series of events are tailored to diverse audiences including farmers, researchers, culinary aficionados, and the general public. Centered in South Kona, Hawaiʻi Island, event activities will celebrate the history of this region, which was home to the famous kalu‘ulu or breadfruit agroforestry belt. The kaluʻulu spanned nearly 10 contiguous square miles and produced 35 million pounds of breadfruit annually - a valuation by today’s market standard of $45 million in farmgate revenues per year.

The full line-up of Hoʻolauleʻa events include the following:

Saturday, September 19th 2026: ‘Ulu Festival at the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, featuring cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs, production workshops, keiki activities and traditional crafts.

Sunday, September 20th and Monday, September 21st 2026: Two day Aha ‘Ulu - an exclusive gathering of cultural practitioners to facilitate sharing of expertise, perspectives, and issues from an indigenous perspective.

Tuesday, September 22nd to Thursday, September 24th 2026: The Global Breadfruit Summit will convene scholars from around the world on critical topics such as agronomy, nutrition and product innovation.

Wednesday, September 23rd 2026: A culinary showcase featuring chefs, distillers and brewers will present culinary and beverage innovations featuring diverse local breadfruit varieties; this world-class social event will facilitate networking and relationship building, helping to drive collaboration across disciplines and geographies in years to come.

Optional activities and excursions for conference participants during the week will include tours of local breadfruit farms practicing various agroforestry techniques as well as local breadfruit product manufacturing facilities.