Kai Ioh | Oct 2026
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is more than just an annual event.; It’s a deeply cherished tradition celebrating one of Kona’s most iconic crops, Kona coffee. For me, it holds even deeper meaning, as it provided the foundation for my Kona life when I moved here 25 years ago.
This year, the festival takes place in Kona from November 6th to November 15th.
Established in 1970, the festival is the oldest food festival in Hawaii, created to honor the rich heritage and cultural contributions of the coffee farmers. Kona coffee farming dates back to the early 1800s when Samuel Ruggles introduced coffee plants. Over time, the crop thrived in Kona’s unique volcanic soil and perfect climate, largely thanks to the dedication of Japanese immigrant farmers. Their hard work elevated Kona coffee to one of the most prized and exotic coffees in the world.
When I first arrived in Kona, one of my first jobs was translating the Kona Coffee Festival’s intensive three-day workshop designed for Japanese coffee experts visiting from Japan. While I had professional experience as a translator, I was new to coffee and had to study hard to prepare. I immersed myself in every aspect of coffee: its history, culture, farming, harvesting, processing, roasting, cupping, and even marketing. The workshop went smoothly, and I came away with more knowledge than I could have imagined.
When I look back, it was the best introduction to Kona’s culture, and I made money! To this day, the person who organized that workshop remains a respected coffee expert in Japan, and I’ll never forget that experience from my first year on the island.
Every November, the festival continues to bring the community together for a multi-day celebration that draws locals and visitors alike. The events are as diverse as they are engaging—coffee tastings, farm tours, art exhibits, parades, and the highly anticipated Kona Coffee Cupping Competition, where judges determine the best coffee of the year. But the festival is more than just a showcase of coffee; it honors the multicultural roots of the industry, recognizing the hard work and contributions of Japanese, Filipino, and Hawaiian farmers. Each event embodies the spirit of aloha, from the hands-on roasting demonstrations to the lively parades and musical performances.
One of our favorite traditions is attending the Holualoa Art and Coffee Stroll, where we sample local farmers’ freshest new crop coffees. I go every year and enjoy over 20 new crops of coffee. Although the hands start to shake at the end of the stroll from the caffeine. Here is my post about Coffee Stroll and Cupping Contest.
We also make it a point to attend the cupping contest, the parade, lei contest and other festival highlights. Our own Daifukuji Taiko Group performs throughout the festival, playing at the parade, the opening ceremony, and the Ho‘olaule‘a, the vibrant closing party. There are many events planned this year. I strongly suggest participating! Last year we participated in a historical coffee farm tour at Uchida Living Coffee Farm. Our friend Etsuko made it very memorable. Highly recommended.
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is more than an event—it’s a celebration of heritage, community, and the deep roots that coffee has grown in the heart of Kona. For me, it’s an annual reminder of the experiences that shaped my journey here and the beautiful spirit of aloha that connects us all.
