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 24 years ago.
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 earliest jobs was translating a Kona Coffee Festival's Coffee Workshop for Japanese attendees. It was an 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—learning about 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. Not only was it a meaningful introduction to Kona’s culture, but it was also paid well! 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. 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.
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.