The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
Big Island Guide
Travel Guide
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is Held Each November in Kona Hawaii.
The 2023 Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is November 3rd-12th.
For almost two centuries, Kona-grown coffee has been a well-regarded delicacy among coffee aficionados throughout the world. Light, delicious, and carrying a distinctive taste, authentic Kona Coffee is as sought-after as any Hawaiian export. It’s a unique crop to the United States and can be grown only on the western side of the Big Island perfectly situated along the slopes of fertile volcanic mountains, shielded from excess sunlight and in a unique microclimate that provides the perfect amount of precipitation. For this reason, hundreds of small coffee farmers call Kona home, and many of them gather each year for the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, celebrating art, music, dance, food, educational opportunities, and – of course – coffee!
2023 Kona Coffee Festival Events
Most events require a Festival Button purchase to participate and some have additional fees.
This schedule is subject to change so please check out the full schedule on the festival website.
Friday, Nov 3
Greenwell Farms Seed to Cup Farm Tour – Kealakekua – 9:30am and 1:30pm
Kona Coffee Living History Farm Tour – Captain Cook – 10am – 2pm
Made in Hawai’i Artisan Market – Hale Halawai County Pavilion – 2pm – 9pm
Multicultural Showcase – Hale Halawai County Pavilion – 7pm – 10pm
Lantern Parade – Alii Drive, Kailua Pier to Hale Halawai – 6pm
Saturday, Nov 4
Greenwell Farms Seed to Cup Farm Tour – Kealakekua – 9:30am and 1:30pm
The Holualoa Coffee and Art Stroll – Holualoa Village – 9am – 2pm
Donkey Mill Art Center – Cultural Activities – 10am and 12pm
Donkey Mill Art Center – Opening Reception – 5pm – 7pm
Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Competition – King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel – 6pm – 8:30pm
Sunday, Nov 5
Greenwell Farms Seed to Cup Farm Tour – Kealakekua – 9:30am and 1:30pm
Little Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Competition – King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel – 3pm – 5pm
Monday, Nov 6
Greenwell Farms Seed to Cup Farm Tour – Kealakekua – 9:30am and 1:30pm
Kona Coffee Living History Farm Tour – Captain Cook – 10am – 2pm
Kona Coffee Quilt Show – Kona Hawaiian Quilt Museum – 10am – 4pm
Kona Coffee Barista Training – Kona Coffee and Tea – 5pm – 9pm
Kona Coffee Gamble: 60 Years – Aloha Theatre – 7pm
Tuesday, Nov 7
Greenwell Farms Seed to Cup Farm Tour – Kealakekua – 9:30am and 1:30pm
Kona Coffee Living History Farm Tour – Captain Cook – 10am – 2pm
Kona Coffee Quilt Show – Kona Hawaiian Quilt Museum – 10am – 4pm
Wednesday, Nov 8
Greenwell Farms Seed to Cup Farm Tour – Kealakekua – 9:30am and 1:30pm
Kona Coffee Quilt Show – Kona Hawaiian Quilt Museum – 10am – 4pm
Donkey Mill Art Center – The ‘Aina Speaks Exhibition – 10am – 6pm
Thursday, Nov 9
Greenwell Farms Seed to Cup Farm Tour – Kealakekua – 9:30am and 1:30pm
Kona Coffee Quilt Show – Kona Hawaiian Quilt Museum – 10am – 4pm
Donkey Mill Art Center – The ‘Aina Speaks Exhibition – 10am – 6pm
Kona Coffee Latte Art Throwdown – Kona Coffee and Tea – 6pm – 9pm
Friday, Nov 10
Greenwell Farms Seed to Cup Farm Tour – Kealakekua – 9:30am and 1:30pm
Kona Coffee Quilt Show – Kona Hawaiian Quilt Museum – 10am – 4pm
Donkey Mill Art Center – The ‘Aina Speaks Exhibition – 10am – 6pm
Kona’s Got Talent Showcase – Kona Hongwanji Social Hall – 6pm – 9pm
Saturday, Nov 11
100% Pure Kona Coffee Half Marathon – Coconut Grove Marketplace – 6am
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Ho’olaule’a – Makae’o County Pavilion (Old Airport)
9am – 3pm
Greenwell Farms Seed to Cup Farm Tour – Kealakekua – 9:30am and 1:30pm
Donkey Mill Art Center – The ‘Aina Speaks Exhibition – 10am – 6pm
The Grand Finale – A Taste of Kona – Marriott King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel – 5:30pm – 9pm – Tickets Required
Sunday, Nov 12
Greenwell Farms Seed to Cup Farm Tour – Kealakekua – 9:30am and 1:30pm
KTA Super Sores Kona Coffee Recipe Contest and Kona Coffee Expo – Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa – 11am – 4pm
Artist and Farmer Talk Story + Potluck Brunch – Donkey Mill Art Center – 9am – Noon
Daily Activities Nov 5-12
UCC Hawaii: Kona Coffee Picking and Farm Experience – Holualoa – shop 9am, tour 10am
Hala Tree Coffee: Transparency in Kona Coffee Farming – Captain Cook – 10:30am and 2:30pm
Buddha’s Cup: Tasting Coffee Like Fine Wine – Holualoa – 9:30am – 1pm
Island Sun Coffee: Farming Kona with Diversified Crops – Kona – 9am – 3pm
Over the course of several action-packed days, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival rewards visitors with historical exhibits and presentations, a lantern parade, a coffee and art stroll, arts and crafts displays, coffee making tips and tricks, concerts, farm tours, and many attractions: including the Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Pageant and the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Cupping Competition.
What’s “cupping?”
Cupping is a term used by coffee professionals as a method to evaluate and assess specialty coffee in a blind fashion. It’s the formal process for testing the aroma and taste for individual coffees, with testers deeply inhaling the scent, then slurping a small amount of the coffee so that it crosses to the back of the tongue and is absorbed fully into the mouth for tasting. Coffee is measured and graded by texture, sweetness, acidity, overall flavor, and the aftertaste.
Kona Coffee’s characteristics can vary greatly depending on roast and farm, but the general consensus is that Kona Coffees are medium-bodied with floral aromas, a bit of acidity, and a hint of sweetness. Like Napa Valley wines, for instance, not all Kona Coffees are alike – thus the cupping competition. All coffee entered must be 100% Kona coffee, grown specifically in the district of Kona on Hawai‘i Island. They are judged using the Specialty Coffee Association scoring system.
What to Know About The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Attendance
Attendance to the festival is one of the most enlightening and rewarding experiences you can undertake on the Big Island of Hawaii. You may come and go as you please (after all, the event lasts several days and is spread among several venues).
A festival button ($5 per person) is required for entrance to the various events, this modest fee helps support the festival and event coordination. The buttons are also fantastic collector items, as they have the new festival artwork featured on them each year. Buttons can be purchased at most of the event locations as well as at many local businesses around Kona. A few of the main events have additional fees or tickets required to attend.
Some of the highlights of this year’s festival are the lantern parade through downtown Kona, a coffee art competition, a variety of farm tours, the cupping competition, Hawaiian Craft demonstrations, and several cultural events. You can learn more about this year’s festival by visiting the official website.
