A Day Dedicated to the Bean

Burnished brown and glistening with oil, the aromatic Ka’u coffee bean has won cupping contests and gained fans worldwide. Saturday May 12, the 4^th Annual Ka’u Coffee Festival will also celebrate Ka’u Coffee Day at the Pahala Community Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This bean, and their Ka’u growers are cultivating a voracious following. Since 2007, Ka’u coffee growers have gained international recognition. On a world stage, growers such as the Kailiawa Family in Pahala, and Will and Grace Tabios with Rising Sun have created extraordinarily flavorful coffees that place in the top ten worldwide in the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Coffee, (SCAA) competitions.

Ka’u coffee is pitted against beans from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Columbia, Guatamala, Honduras, Kenya, Peru and more. Yet with such staunch competition, Hawai’i Island’s Ka’u coffee remains true to its sweet roots and wins fans the world over.

Ka'u Coffee Day Proclamation

Mayor Billy Kenoi has even proclaimed May 12, to be Ka’u Coffee Day. “Ka‘ū coffee farmers have the talent, and ability, and the resiliency to create a world-class coffee that all of Hawai‘i Island can be proud of…” said Kenoi.

Event goers will enjoy live music, hula, local food, demonstrations, farm and mill tours and of course, great coffee. Mayor Kenoi added, “The Ka‘ū Coffee Festival is good for the economy, good for agriculture, and good for our community. Mahalo to everyone in Ka‘ū for supporting our farmers.”

Pahala Community Center is located at 96-1149 Kamani Street in Pahala. For those interested in getting into business with the bean, on May 13, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, enroll in Ka’u Coffee College. For more information visit www.kaucoffeefest.com.