Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival spreads coffee culture across Kailua-Kona and nearby Holualoa and Kealakekua, from a lantern parade between Kailua Pier and Hale Halawai to a cupping competition and a lei contest at the Ho'olaule'a. Farm visits include Island Sun Coffee's mill tour with cacao and fruit, Greenwell Farms from seed to cup, UCC Hawaii picking on the estate, Buddha's Cup flights, Hala Tree's walking tour on the slopes of Mauna Loa, and Doutor's self-guided Mauka Meadows tasting. A recipe contest, barista training, a latte-art throwdown, an espresso-martini competition, a quilt and fiber show, and a 100 percent pure Kona coffee half marathon are part of the same festival.

Our take: Pair one farm tour, such as Greenwell's seed-to-cup tour or Hala Tree's walk on the slopes of Mauna Loa, with the lantern parade or the Ho'olaule'a.