Since it’s start in 2016, VegFest Oahu has had many dedicated activists working for months to bring this inspiring day to you, our island community. You can read about the Team from past events here: 2018 Team and 2017 Team and 2016 Team.
2019 Festival Organizing Team:
Joy Waters – Founder and Festival Producer. Joy, the entrepreneur behind Positive Media Hawaii, is a relentless optimist on a mission to inspire people to be engaged citizens. Her passion is creating life-changing media content and events. A vegan foodie and long-time advocate for plant-based living, she produced the TV show Tasty and Meatless long before Hawaii had its first vegetarian restaurant. She is also the Organizer of the Oahu Vegan Meetup. Joy decided to produce VegFest Oahu because she believes this event will strengthen the local, plant-based community and be the tipping point towards more sustainable island perspectives.
Otis Schapher – Sound Engineer, Music Stage. Otis generously donated use of all equipment needed for the Music Stage as well as long hours at the event to make sure the bands sound their best. A musician in his own right, Otis is known as the “Bob Dylan of Haleiwa” and often plays at local venues. Otis owns The Factory, a surfboard manufacturing company. He has been a vegetarian for over 20 years.
Christina Culianos – Venue Liaison, Coordinator for Cleaning Crew. Originally from New York, Christina moved to Oahu two years ago. She is an animal lover, vegetarian, and loves hiking through our beautiful mountains. She has experience in Marketing and Event Production and is enthused to be able to combine her skills and passions in community outreach through VegFest Oahu. As a former bacon lover and carnivore, Christina hopes to inspire and educate others interested in transitioning to a plant-based diet and be the voice for our furry friends who don’t have one.
Michael Wall – Aloha Activism Projects, Sound Engineer for Learning Kitchen and Speaker Series. Michael is a group facilitator, educator, author, and songsmith in service to empowered learning, nurturing community, and the celebration of Spirit. He is proud to be vegan, and is deeply committed to compassion for all beings. He is an Advanced Artistic Teaching Partner through the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Art’s “Artists in the Schools Program”. For more on his many projects, visit Creative Living Services.
Event Day Support, Special Mahalos To:
SuperNova Energetics – Bringing the power of sound vibration to align the mind, body and spirit of VegFest O‘ahu attendees in our Harmony Haven Tent. Sarah’s team runs a new Gong Bath every half hour, totally free at the festival. Lay back, relax and enjoy the good vibes!.
Plastic Free Hawaii – Water Refill Station. One of Kokua Hawaii Foundation‘s projects which provides resources, tools, and trainings to educate schools, business partners, and community members about the environmental and health benefits of going plastic free to minimize single-use plastics in our islands. We are grateful for the use of their Water Refill Station which they offer free of charge to events to help create a Plastic Free Hawaii. More than 15 Oahu events have eliminated the need for 13,891 single-use plastic water bottles in the last year alone. Deep thanks to Doorae who will deliver, set-up, maintain, and pack up the Water Refill Station on event day.
