Maui Vegan News for April 2026
Larry the Baby Goat and Henry the Cat, residents of Leilani Farm Sanctuary, Ha’iku, Maui. (Based on a photo by Laurelee Blanchard)
We were very sorry to learn that Hempy’s Shake and Wake, a vegan café in Wailuku, has closed indefinitely due to extensive damage from flooding. This makes a total of three all-vegan restaurants we’ve lost recently for various reasons. One of the remaining vegan establishments, Ahonui Foods, a food truck across from Costco, has teased a big change coming, stating that they are will not be closing but “transforming.” Stay tuned …
Leilani Farm Sanctuary is seeking a part-time farm hand. Starting pay is $25/hour. Tasks include painting, barn & aviary cleaning, washing buckets & bowls, raking, weeding, and making minor repairs. Must be honest, reliable, and energetic. References are required. Inquire by email: info@leilanifarmsanctuary.org
EVENTS
Wednesday, April 8, Anti-Aging Nutrition Secrets for Health and Longevity, John Westerdahl, Ph.D. M.P.H., R.D.N., 6 PM. Kahului Union Church, 101 W. Kamehameha Avenue, Kahului. The event is free, but telephone registration, 808-722-9782, is required to ensure seating. Presented by the Vegan Society of Hawaii.
Saturday, April 18, Hāna Ball Park: 30th Annual East Maui Taro Festival. Details here.
Ongoing: The Vegan Society of Hawaii hosts in-person and live presentations. Check here for the latest.
Moku Roots, which sustained considerable damage from the recent Kona Storm, is still able to offer farm-to-table brunches and dinners in Kula. Email mokuroots@gmail.com to be placed on the mailing list.
NEWS AND TRENDS
The Media Says Veganism Is Slowing Down. These Cities Are Proving Otherwise.
Congress to Consider a $12 Million Vegan Plan To Change School Lunches Nationwide
Young people more open to ditching meat than previously thought – new study
New Study Shows How Vegans Adapt To ‘Survive’ In A Meat-Eating World
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
American Heart Association Recommends Plant-Based Protein Over Meat
New Study Finds Higher NAD+ Levels in Vegans Linked To Slower Aging
Global Study Supports Meat-Free Diets for Cancer Prevention
Kidney function improved with plant-based diet, researchers say
SPORTS AND FITNESS
Vegan Bodybuilder Sets New Guinness World Record At 61 Years Old
CONNECTIONS
Three Maui vegan Facebook groups are Vegan on Maui, Maui Vegans and Maui Vegan Life. The Vegan Society of Hawaii occasionally holds in-person presentations in Wailuku. In recent years Maui has not been able to sustain vegan meetup groups, but check Meetup.com in case a new effort is underway.
THIS MONTH IN VEGAN HISTORY
USDA updates school meal standards. The USDA issues new school nutrition standards that, among other changes, make it easier for schools to serve protein-rich vegetarian breakfast options like tofu. (April 24, 2024)
Barnes and Noble adds a nationwide vegan breakfast sandwich. Barnes and Noble launches a plant-based JUST Egg breakfast sandwich in more than 500 in-store cafés across all 50 states. (April 10, 2023)
IPCC spotlights demand-side diet shifts. The IPCC finalizes the AR6 Working Group III mitigation report, reinforcing that demand-side changes, including shifts toward plant-based diets, are part of the mitigation toolkit. (April 4, 2022)
World Aquatic Animal Day begins. The first annual World Aquatic Animal Day is held, spotlighting the welfare and ecological importance of aquatic animals and raising awareness about harms tied to fishing and aquaculture. (April 3, 2020)
Paris Agreement opens for signature on Earth Day. The Paris Agreement opens for signature at the United Nations on Earth Day, strengthening the climate-policy context that later fuels plant-forward climate messaging and initiatives. (April 22, 2016)
Sodexo expands Meatless Monday at scale. Sodexo announces it has more than tripled the reach of its Meatless Monday offering, expanding plant-forward institutional dining across thousands of corporate and government sites. (April 18, 2011)
Choice opens in Lahaina. The mostly vegan Choice Health Bar in Lahaina opens. (April 11, 2011)
Maryland VegWeek runs statewide. Maryland’s VegWeek promotes a weeklong vegetarian pledge and events, with a kickoff in Takoma Park supported by local officials. (April 24–30, 2010)
Meatless lunch activism hits teen TV. ABC Family’s 10 Things I Hate About You airs “Meat Is Murder,” centered on a student push for a meatless lunch initiative. (April 19, 2010)
Johns Hopkins Hospital launches Meatless Monday. The Johns Hopkins Hospital starts a Meatless Monday campaign in its cafeteria to promote healthier eating. (April 12, 2010)
San Francisco declares Mondays “Vegetarian Day.” The San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopts a resolution urging restaurants, schools, and grocery stores to offer more plant-based options each Monday. (April 6, 2010)
UN proclaims International Mother Earth Day. The UN General Assembly proclaims April 22 as International Mother Earth Day, elevating global environmental framing that increasingly intersects with plant-based advocacy. (April 22, 2009)
Michael Pollan endorses Meatless Monday on Oprah. On Earth Day, Pollan urges viewers to cut their carbon footprint by eating less meat, pushing plant-forward ideas into mainstream U.S. media. (April 22, 2009)
Takoma Park proclaims Veg Week. Takoma Park, Maryland signs a mayoral proclamation declaring April 24–30 as “Takoma Park Veg Week,” encouraging residents to choose vegetarian foods for health, animals, and the planet. (April 20, 2009)
Vegan cuisine offered in Ha’iku. The Temple of Peace in Ha’iku offers vegan cuisine at its dining club, Higher Taste. (April 2008)
Earthling premiers. The documentary Earthlings premiered at the Artivist Film Festival and won Best Documentary Feature. (April 2005)
East Maui Taro Festival celebrates kalo. The East Maui Taro Festival holds its fifth annual celebration in Hana, highlighting taro farming and traditional plant-based foods central to Hawaiian culture. (April 4–6, 1997)
Mad cow disease debated. Oprah Winfrey broadcasts a debate about mad cow disease, sparking declining prices for beef and a lawsuit. (April 16, 1996)
World Day for Laboratory Animals begins. The first World Day for Laboratory Animals is observed, catalyzing annual global protests and awareness about animal experimentation. (April 24, 1979)
Earth Day debuts. The inaugural Earth Day mobilizes millions in the U.S., helping seed modern environmentalism that later becomes a major pillar of plant-based arguments. (April 22, 1970)
Vegan Society launched. The Leicester-based Non-Dairy Produce Group, also known as Non-Dairy Vegetarians, renames itself the Vegan Society and adopts a formal definition of “veganism.” (April 8, 1945)
Dairy debated. The Vegetarian Messenger and Health Review publishes part 2 of Donald Watson’s article “Should Vegetarians Eat Dairy Produce?” On April 22, a motion to aim to eliminate dairy produce from one’s diet is debated at the Croydon Vegetarian Society and passes overwhelmingly. (April 1944)
Vegan entertainment offered. William Horsell, editor-publisher of The Vegetarian Advocate, presents a “Vegetarian entertainment” featuring carrot pudding, barley sago, and apple dishes without animal products. (April 2, 1850)
Doctor promotes veganism. The Metropolitan Magazine quotes Dr. Reece’s Medical Guide: “A vegetable diet affords the same support as animal food, with the important advantage of preventing plethora.” (April 1846)
“Vegetarian” debuts. The first confirmed use of the word “vegetarian” appears in the Alcott House Journal, meaning what today would be called vegan. (April 1842)