Kona, Hawaii (August 22, 2019) - For nearly 200 years much has been celebrated, discussed and enjoyed over a cup of Kona's world famous coffee. Kona's annual coffee harvest has sustained this agricultural community and the community gathers to celebrate every November.Praised for its fine, light and memorable taste, Kona coffee once again takes center stage at the 49th Annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival happening Friday November 1 through Sunday November 10.
The award-winning Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is recognized as the oldest and one of the most successful food festivals in Hawaii. The 10-day Festival honors Kona's cultural heritage and recognizes the accomplishments of Kona coffee pioneers, farmers and artisans.
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival experience is unique, enriching and ensures that the story of Kona coffee's cultural heritage continues to be shared with residents and visitors. The cultural heritage of Kona's coffee industry is built on the multi-generational farmers, mainly of Japanese descent who established coffee plantations in the Kona District along with the native Hawaiian host culture who had earlier ties to growing coffee in Kona.
In 1828, Reverend Samuel Ruggles, brought coffee cuttings from Oahu to South Kona to see if the plants would thrive in Kona's volcanic soil. By 1841, coffee farms were established in Kona and forever changed the local landscape and set Kona on a new economic journey that continues today.
Throughout the 10-day Festival, festival-goers 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.
A Sampling of Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Events (a complete schedule is available at
KonaCoffeeFest.com)
Lighting Up the Evening
As the sun sets over Historic Kailua Village, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Lantern Parade lights the way along Alii Drive with its glowing procession of light, music and color. The Lantern Parade kicks off the Festival's first Friday - on November 1 at 6 pm.
Holualoa Village Coffee & Art Stroll
Stroll through the quaint art district, visit galleries and choose from over 30 Kona coffee farms offering tastings and coffee for purchase.
Kona Coffee Farm Tours
A visit to this historic Kona coffee farm reveals the story of Kona coffee farmers from 1926-1945. It's America's only living history coffee farm.
Greenwell Farms offers a seed to cup tour taking festival-goers on a fascinating journey into the history, the farming, the processing and tasting of 100% pure Kona Coffee.
UCC Hawaii opens its farm with a coffee picking and farm experience tour, where festival-goers can try their hand at picking ripe coffee cherry and witness the processing of coffee.
Kona Coffee Cupping Competition
An international panel of professional cupping judges conduct side-by-side blind tastings as they sniff, slurp and taste their way through 50+ entries to crown the winner.
Ho'olaule'a
Artisans, cultural practitioners, Hawaiian musicians, Kona coffee farmers and crafters all gather to share many of Kona's ethnic traditions during the day-long Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Ho'olaule'a.
Brewing Up a Recipe
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is not just about sipping the best coffee in the world, it's about the food too! The KTA Super Stores Kona Coffee Recipe Contest where signature dishes feature - you guessed it - Kona's world famous coffee. Sweet and savory recipes twist and turn, tempting expert judges as each entry is scored on presentation, harmony of ingredients, craftsmanship and design.
Purchase a $5 Festival admission button and enjoy more than 40 events for ten days and get special rates for ticketed events. Festival admission buttons are available for purchase at many retail and farm locations throughout the Kona area. Plus, every button purchased helps support the Festival and ensures its continued success and missionto preserve, perpetuate and promote Kona's nearly 200-year coffee heritage.
For a complete listing of the 2019 Kona Coffee Cultural Festival events or for more information visit
www.konacoffeefest.com . Follow the Festival on social media @konacoffeefest
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival ismade possible through the strong support of Hawaii Tourism and the generous sponsorship of UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., Ltd., Kamehameha Schools, Alaska Airlines, Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union and numerous other corporate and community donors.