The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival 'Tradition, Culture & Kona Coffee' celebrates its 38th anniversary with 10 days of festivities honoring pioneers, farmers, artisans and coffee, November 7-16, 2008.
American missionary Samuel Ruggles is credited for the introduction of coffee in 1828. These Arabica trees were taken from cuttings planted on Oahu to Hawaii. Kona's rich volcanic soil, hard-working family farmers and perfect climatic conditions helped in establishing the gourmet coffee-growing region that is acknowledged today. Through the years the award-winning Kona Coffee Cultural Festival has grown to be recognized as the oldest and most successful food festival in Hawaii and the only coffee festival in the United States.
This year's event is brewing up to be the best ever, with events and workshops planned throughout the week at various locations along the Kona Coffee Belt. At the annual Cupping Competition, festival attendees can view judges at work selecting the finest Kona coffee and sample the coffee themselves while learning from experts how to critique a high-quality brew.
Visitors can watch or participate in a coffee bean picking contest for prizes, watch the Miss Kona Coffee Pageant or shop for estate Kona coffee at the Holualoa Village Coffee Tasting and Art Stroll. An art exhibit features a collection of paintings and other mediums depicting the Kona coffee lifestyle, and a recipe contest gives amateurs, culinary students and professional chefs an opportunity to enter their most stellar creations using gourmet Kona coffee. Visitors may tour working and historical coffee farms, mills and roasting operations. Two parades are also planned in conjunction with this festival.
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is recognized and supported as a 'Major Festival' by Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) as the festival showcases Hawaii's unique culture and diversity. HTA was created in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future. Its mission is to strategically manage the growth of Hawaii's visitor industry in a manner consistent with its economic goal, cultural values, preservation of natural resources and community interests.
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is supported by UCC Ueshima Coffee Company Ltd, Gevalia Kaffe, Kamehameha Schools, Keauhou Resort, KTA Super Stores, County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development, Sheraton Keauhou Beach Resort & Spa, Keauhou Beach Resort and numerous corporate and community donors.
For a full schedule of this year's events and for more information on this year's Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, contact (808) 326-7820 or go to: www.konacoffeefest.com.
