The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival - America's Only Coffee Festival

The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival became a source of fascination to me after I was lucky enough to taste the sweet nectar of Kona coffee, again.

Several years ago I interviewed a young man who had just started a breakfast shop in my city. His mother had vacationed in Hawaii and was introduced to Kona coffee there. After bringing this back to the States, her son fell in love with it and decided it would be the only coffee served in his restaurant. During the interview I was served Kona coffee and have been in love with it since.

Two years ago my sister, Jill, went to Greenwell Farms in Hawaii and became a coffee club member. Each month she receives Kona coffee and on her last trip to see me, she gave me a little. I was entranced again. I also decided to research the Kona culture in Hawaii. My explorations began. One of my paths led me to the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival. I found out this traditional celebration was much more than I could have ever imagined.

Jeanette Vigden of Current Events is a press secretary for the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival. She was pleased to discuss the Festival for Kona coffee lovers everywhere. Here is the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival from a person in the know.

ABS) The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is a tradition. How did this exciting tradition begin?

Jeanette) In 1970 the first Kona Coffee Festival was chaired by Takeshi Kudo. Kudo was the manager of farmer's cooperative in South Kona.

Next, Julie Honda(her background included ties to tourism) the wife of Fred Honda (a former Keauhou Beach Hotel manager) was the next individual to take over the helm of the Festival. A name change to the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival and she brought the Festival to a several days and multiple events.

Norman Sakata became involved with the Festival in 1975. Originally the Grand Parade chairman, he took the helm as President/Chair in 1992. As a farmer at heart, Norman's motivation of staying active with the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is to recognize the contributions of the Kona coffee pioneers. Norman truly takes pride and joy in being able to recognize the Kona coffee pioneer's strong character, hard work and determination that continues to leave a legacy today in our Kona community.

Today the 37th annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival has 25 board members and 40 committee members. The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival runs for 10 days and has nearly 50 events. The Festival takes place in the Kona Coffee Country region which includes: Kailua-Kona, Holualoa, Keauhou and Kealakekua.

I've been told the Festival was originally created for residents as a tribute to the Kona coffee farmers culture and traditions.

ABS) The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is the only coffee festival in the United States -what are a few of the main events?

Jeanette) Yes, we have the distinction of being the only coffee festival.

The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival signature events are the Kona Coffee Picking Contest, Kona Coffee Recipe Contest, the Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Pageant, Kona Coffee Cupping Competition, Holualoa Village Kona Coffee Tasting & Art Stroll and the Kona Coffee Grand Parade.

ABS) What kind of experiences would be a part of the Kona Coffee Living History Farm Tour?

Jeanette) For most people, they have never seen a Kona coffee tree let alone set foot on a Kona coffee farm. Most people are surprised to see that many other agricultural products are grown (i.e. macadamia nuts, mango, banana, papaya, etc.)

The nationally award-winning Uchida Kona Coffee Living History Farm is a 1925 Japanese farm house fully restored to depict the Japanese Kona coffee pioneers industry's peak. The site is listed on the National Register for Historic Places.

Most visitors are surprised to see how small their actual living quarters were and how modestly they lived. They also utilized and recycled everything the used.

Visitors experience the unique lifestyle of a farmer by viewing the coffee farm, the Kona Nightingale (Donkey) the main mode of transportation, the farm house, a Japanese bath house, processing mill and drying platform. Plus visitors are invited to taste freshly made Kona coffee from this farm.

ABS) Explain the Cupping Competition for the layman.
Jeanette) The best way to begin to explain is to say that a coffee cupping is similar to a wine tasting. Just like wine there are workshops offered year-round through the local Kona Coffee Council and Hawaii Coffee Association that allow individuals to learn how to cup coffee.

The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival in conjunction with the Hawaii Community College hosted a two-day roasting and cupping workshop as part of the Festival events.

Several Kona coffees (last year over 65 entries) submitted are blind tasted by a panel of international cupping judges. The Kona coffee entries are both green and roasted and placed in containers on a long rectangular table so judges and evaluate.

The roasted and ground coffee is placed in glasses while hot water is added. Once coffee has steeped, the judges will taste the Kona coffee then they spit the contents into a spittoon. The judges look for high marks in six categories: fragrance, aroma, taste, nose, aftertaste and body.

Usually in the first day, about 15 Kona coffee's make it to the preliminaries and then the following day first, second place are named with the remaining taking honorable mention.

ABS) What is the Kona Coffee Art Exhibit?

Jeannette) The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is not just about tasting Kona coffee, we also have Kona coffee related events. The Kona Coffee Art Exhibit brings a slew of talented local artists and craftsman whose artwork depicts a Kona coffee theme or the Kona coffee lifestyle.

From oils, watercolors, collages, sculpture, carved gourds, stationary to stunning jewelry. The variety and creativity is impressive. Most of these items are for sale.

I tell visitors to always bring a checkbook, cash or credit card to this event since the timing is November it's a great place to do holiday shopping for those special and unique gifts.

The Kona Coffee art is judged and winners are named in three categories: Two-dimensional, three-dimensional and a People's Choice award.

ABS) How would you describe the atmosphere during the 10 days of the festival?

Jeanette) Not sure I am the best person to ask this question since I am working the whole time with capturing images of events, interviewing winners, hosting media, preparing releases and updating a website.

The crowds are awesome! Obvious words are: festive, friendly, enthusiastic and plenty of Aloha spirit wherever you go. We have visitors from all over the US, Canada, Japan, Australia and Europe.

People are excited to walk, talk story with Kona coffee farmers, test several Kona coffees and to really support our local community. Most visitors spend about 5-7 days of the Festival. We have attendees who have come for over 35 years! That's how much they love this Festival.

ABS) Do you have a personal favorite event?

Jeanette) Hmmm, you manage to put me on the spot. I do have a favorite! But let me clarify and say that the entire Festival is very special to me because of the wonderful and dedicated committee and board members. I adore all of them for their hardwork, creativity and commitment to this event.

My favorite event is the Holualoa Village Kona Coffee Tasting & Art Stroll.

Why? Because this is where one of the largest representation of Kona coffee farmers come to talk story and serve free tastings of their Kona coffee. You may purchase from all of these farms. Most of these coffees are not sold locally in stores but by visiting the farm.

This is easy and where I tend to my personal tastings and purchases. Plus the art galleries in the village have beautiful items for sale and find it very hard to resist at least one or two eclectic jewelry pieces from my favorite designers.

ABS) What is the way to make a perfect cup of coffee, Hawaiian style?

Jeanette) It is a personal preference. Most coffee farmers would share that using a French Press produces the perfect cup of Kona coffee. I am heavy Kona coffee drinker and use an espresso machine.

ABS) Tell us anything else that you think might be an important part of the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival.

Jeanette) The community of local volunteers. From banks to schools, everyone is involved in one aspect or another in helping perpetuate the Kona coffee cultural and heritage. We are most fortunate to all our sponsors who we could do continue to do without their participation. The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is very blessed to have made it this far and to continue to evolve and improve.

Isn't that remarkable? Coffee lovers from all over the world congregate to this festival. It would seem that a next trip or a first trip to Hawaii should take place in November during those seven days.