The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is held annually every November in Kona, Hawaii.
“Throughout the 4-day Festival, celebrate the harvest as Kona coffee farms offer a firsthand look at growing this world-famous crop, the coffee art scene fills with inspiration, and music and dance enrich cultural exchanges. Kona coffee and food events offer tastings, and hands-on cultural events help tell the story of Kona’s rich coffee history.”
-The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
Kona coffee has been grown in Kona for almost two centuries, making this coffee sought after and very distinct in flavor. Kona coffee cannot grow just anywhere. Within the US, the only place that can produce this crop is the west side of the Big Island. The fertile soil of the volcanic mountains is situated where there is the perfect amount of sun and precipitation to create ideal growing conditions for this special coffee to flourish. This festival brings together small farmers, locals, and tourists every year to celebrate the culture, art, music, food, and drinks on the Big Island!
Over the four days, attendees will have the opportunity to choose from close to 20 events ranging from farm tours, barista training, recipe contests, art exhibitions, and a high-stakes cupping contest.
Entry into the event itself is free, but if you want to participate in a particular event, the purchase of a festival button ($5) is required.
Here's a sample list of the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival activities
- Greenwell Farms Seed to Cup Farm Tour
- Kona Coffee Cultural Exhibition & Juried Art Show- Donkey Mill Art Center
- Kona Coffee Cultural Quilt Show
- Kona Coffee Living History Farm Tour
- Kona Coffee Cupping Preliminary Round
- Kona Coffee Recipe Contest
- Kona Coffee Cupping Final Top 10
- Lantern Parade and Bon Dance in Historic Kailua Village
- Sugai Kona Coffee Talent Night
- Marathon & Half Marathon
- Kona Coffee Classes
- Coffee & Art Stroll in Holualoa
- Little Miss Kona Coffee Pageant at the Aloha Theatre
- UCC Hawaii Miss Kona Coffee Pageant at the Aloha Theatre
- Barista Training – Kona Coffee and Tea
To stay up to date with the latest news and schedule of the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, you can visit their website.
At this event, there is something for everyone, which begs the question, will you be attending Hawaii’s oldest food festival this year?
