Do you love coffee? Celebrate all that makes the heritage district of K‘au so special during the Ka‘u Coffee Festival! Focusing on the locally grown products, resources and people of the heritage district of Ka‘u, the eighth annual Ka‘u Coffee Festival is in full swing. Enjoy an informative hike that explores historic water flume systems and stargazing from a culturally important mountaintop today and tomorrow.
See and enjoy Ka‘u crops—and meet the hard-working people who grow them—during numerous activities at several venues during the Festival. (The Festival started its run on May 13, but runs through this weekend!)
Festival fun culminates 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 21 inside and out of the Pahala Community Center at the free Ka‘u Coffee Festival Ho‘olaule‘a. Enjoy a full day of Hawaiian performing arts; keiki activities; broke ‘da mouth local food, crafts, product and informational booths; plus barista-guided coffee tastings. Guided farm tours with van transport are $20. On Sunday, May 22 at 9 a.m, visiting coffee industry experts offer seminars focused on enhancing coffee quality, best farm management techniques including integrated pest management, and coffee quality’s impact on price.
Enter the “Buy Local, It Matters” contest for a chance to win! Simply visit festival sponsors and redeem purchase receipts, product labels and business cards at the ho‘olaule‘a for chances to win cash and prizes.
All activities are open to the public; for details on ticketed events and full festival info, visit www.KauCoffeeFest.com.
On Wednesday, May 18 and Thursday, May 19 explore historic flume systems of the sugarcane era and development of hydroelectric power on a Ka‘u Mountain Water System Hike in the Wood Valley rainforest 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Limited to 30, $40 includes lunch. Visit www.kaucoffeemill.com or phone 808-928-0550.
On Friday, May 20 “cowboy up” at Coffee & Cattle Day 10 a.m. at Aikane Plantation Coffee farm. Find out how descendants of Ka‘u’s first coffee farmer integrate coffee with other agriculture. $25 fee includes an all-you can eat buffet. Visit www.aikaneplantation.com or phone 808-927-2252.
On Friday, May 20 observe the heavens from the summit of Makanau at Ka‘u Star Gazing, 5:30-10 p.m. $35 with refreshments and shuttle transportation departing from Ka‘u Coffee Mill. Sign up at www.kaucoffeemill.com or call 808-928-0550.
On Saturday, May 21 9 a.m.-5 p.m. the festival culminates with the Ka‘u Coffee Festival Ho‘olaule‘a—a full day of live music, hula, food booths, local crafts, 
keiki activities, educational displays, coffee tastings and farm/mill tours headquartered inside and out of the Pahala Community Center. It’s a great place to “talk story” with Ka’u coffee growers. Festival entry is free. Ka‘u Coffee Experience offers Ka‘u coffees prepared using a variety of methods by professionals from 9:30 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Farm tours with shuttle transport are 9:30 and 11 a.m., plus 12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m., $20. Call 808-929-9550 or visit www.kaucoffeefest.com.
On Sunday, May 22 learn about the coffee industry during presentations by visiting coffee experts at the Ka‘u Coffee College at Pahala Community Center. The Coffee College hosts educational seminars and a reverse trade mission. Free, donations appreciated. Call 808-929-9550 or www.KauCoffeeFest.com.
Ka‘u Coffee Festival: Founded in coffee traditions hailing to the 1800s—plus the hard work of former sugar plantation workers—Ka‘u coffee burst onto the specialty coffee scene by winning numerous coffee quality awards. These accolades highlight the unique combination of people and place that makes Ka‘u coffee a favorite across the globe. The festival’s mission is to raise awareness of Ka‘u as a world-class, coffee-growing origin. For more information and festival updates, visit kaucoffeefest.com, follow Ka‘u Coffee Festival on Facebook and @kaucoffeefest on Twitter, or call 808-929-9550.
Supported in part by the County of Hawai‘i Department of Research & Development, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, the Ka‘u Coffee Festival is designed to celebrate Ka’u as a premium coffee growing origin and a unique visitor destination. Many events are free, while others require a nominal fee and reservations. All activities feature the exceptional flavor and aroma of Ka‘u coffee and the people and place that produces it:
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The Coffee College hosts educational seminars by local and journeymen coffee industry experts and a reverse trade mission.
The Coffee College hosts educational seminars by local and journeymen coffee industry experts and a reverse trade mission.