On July 8th, Gentle World volunteers dusted off our tabling hats and set up a booth at the Big Island VegFest. It was a fantastic event with around 1500 people passing through, so we were rushed off our feet providing vegan information and free food samples!
With dozens of other fantastic vendors (including plant based food, vegan entrepreneurs, artists, farmers, and animal rescuers) Gentle World’s vegan education booth provided a unique opportunity for attendees to “talk story” (as they say here in the islands) with multi-decade vegans who were living that way before anyone even knew what the word meant!
What a great celebration of veganism it was!
As described by the organizer, our friend and fellow vegan-maker Alessandra Weber-Rupar: “So much beauty and hope, kindness and hard working determination to make a difference and Be the change -it was overwhelmingly sweet and a ray of bright light, co-created by all!! 
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Other cool happenings at the event: The surprise appearance of Robert Cheeke, who just happened to discover the VegFest while enjoying a relaxing vacation in Hawaii, and the attendance of Big Island Mayor Roth, who has recently turned his health around with the adoption of a plant-based diet.
