Bernard Fowler (center) Nicholas Tremulis (left) and Rolling Stones’ bassist Daryl Jones (right) in Kapalua 2024. For the Maui News/Jon Woodhouse

After a successful debut event in September 2024, the Hua Momona Foundation will present the second annual Maui Music & Food Experience on Aug. 15 and 16 at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Kaanapali.

“The concert and especially the last set with all the musicians on stage was jaw-dropping and historic, and way beyond my expectations,” Hua Momona Foundation founder Gary Grube recalled about the 2024 show at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Based in Kapalua, Grube formed the Hua Momona Foundation during the COVID pandemic to serve fresh produce to people in need, with farm boxes delivered weekly to homeless shelters. With a mission to combat food insecurity, the foundation is helping accelerate the Lahaina rebuild following the fires, and helping cultivate Maui’s youth music scene.

“We want to continue to give the people of Maui a shot in the arm of aloha, to keep them going,” said Grube. “They went through a lot, and they still are. It’s just hard, and the trauma’s still there, and this is going to take a while. The mission is really to help the people of Maui feel better.”

The lineup of artists performing in August includes longtime Rolling Stones’ backing vocalist Bernard Fowler with the group Mongoose, Chicago musician Nicholas Tremulis and Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk with special guest Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers in a tribute to Jimi Hendrix.

Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers playing guitar with his teeth ala Jimi Hendrix at the MACC 2024. For The Maui News/Jon Woodhouse

Hawaii artists on the bill include Paula Fuga, Kanekoa, Marty Dread, Tavana, Brown Chicken Brown Cow, Naiwi Teruya, Wayne Baker Brooks, Frank Orrall of Poi Dog Pondering and Hawaiian slack key guitar master Ledward Kaapana.

Fowler has a long association with the Rolling Stones, providing backing vocals since 1989 on their recordings and live tours. He has also been a featured guest vocalist on solo albums by Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Ron Wood. Other musicians he has sung with include Herbie Hancock, Alice Cooper and Jamaica’s Sly & Robbie. On his most recent solo album, “Inside Out,” he re-interpreted songs by the Stones as spoken word poetry in the manner of Gil Scott-Heron.

With a career spanning over seven decades, The Isley Brothers have enjoyed one of the longest, most influential and most diverse careers in popular music. Still touring, in the last few years they have recorded with Beyoncé, Snoop Dogg and Carlos Santana. Their first hit was “Shout,” which sold over a million copies in 1959, and their second was “Twist and Shout,” which were both later covered by the Beatles. The Isleys released many brilliant soul/funk rock flavored songs like “Fight the Power, Pts. 1 & 2,” “Live It Up, Pts. 1 & 2,” and “That Lady, Pts. 1 & 2.”

“The situation in Hawaii is both deeply important and personal to me,” Isley said in a news release. “I’ve had the chance to visit Lahaina several times, and I’ve always found it to be one of the most charming parts of Maui. There’s something special about its history and the slower pace. Last year’s show was a lot of fun. The audience’s energy was incredible.”

Dumpstaphunk is a popular New Orleans funk band known for its complex arrangements, soulful harmonies and high-energy live performances. The band was formed by Ivan Neville in 2003 to perform at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and has since become a prominent force in the city’s music scene. Both Ivan and Ian Neville are part of the Neville musical family, with Ivan being the son of Aaron Neville and Ian being the son of Art Neville.

Tremulis formed the 13-member Nicholas Tremulis Band, one of the top groups in Chicago who played an infectious combination of rock, R&B and soul. He has played and recorded with artists such as Keith Richards, Billy Corgan, Maceo Parker, Ronnie Spector and Mavis Staples.

Bernard Fowler (right) with Maui’s Kenny Blue at the MACC 2024. For The Maui News/Jon Woodhouse

The event will also spotlight celebrated chefs and their culinary artistry, led by Hua Momona Farm Chef Zach Laidlaw. Joining him will be Next Level Chef Season 3 winner Gabrielle Chappel, along with World Rice Champion Chef Ryan Von Smith (Chef Von) and Charles Andres, executive chef at the Sheraton Maui.

Along with the Maui shows, the foundation will stage an event in Chicago on Nov. 7 and is looking at how to time bringing an event to the people of Texas affected by the flooding. Grube has been in contact with flood relief organizations in Texas to offer to help raise funds with an Experience concert when they’re ready.

“We had a San Antonio concert planned before the floods, but now sadly that community is in their own disaster response phase,” said Grube. “We’re looking at bringing some aloha to the people of Texas through a Chicago-based benefit concert in the near term and when appropriate, a full Maui Experience benefit concert in San Antonio, complete with some acts from Maui.”

The Chicago show will feature legendary soul singer Bettye LaVette and Maui’s John Cruz.

“We’re raising some money, and building the brand,” said Grube. “The music festival in the long run is going to throw off cash to fund the programs of our foundation. It’s always going to be food insecurity. That’s always going to be an issue. And now we have a Maui music program, and Naiwi is our lead artistic teacher. We’re providing ukuleles and instruction to young people on the West Side that Naiwi is instructing.”

The second annual Maui Music & Food Experience will be Aug. 15 and 16 at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa. One day and two day general admission and VIP passes are available at MauiMusicAndFoodExperience.org.

Ernie Isley (right) Mick Fleetwood (left) at the MACC 2024. For The Maui News/Jon Woodhouse