For over five decades, Kona has gathered to celebrate the food and beverages that have shaped its strong cultural identity. The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival remains the oldest food festival in Hawai’i, honoring the rich heritage passed down for generations through their coffee. This delectable gift has been passed down from kings and chiefs and now rests in the hands of hard-working farmers, who balance the weight of preserving tradition with the demands of modern life.
Thanks to them, Kona Coffee continues to hold a global appeal. Famed for its rarity, 100% Kona coffee can be produced only in a small region, making it one of the most sought-after coffees in the world. Despite shifting trends and market pressures, Kona’s farmers continue to produce a unique offering. Processed by expert local hands, the humble coffee bean continues to empower Kona’s cultural identity worldwide.
When coffee landed in Kona nearly 200 years ago, it flourished. It was a seedling of hope and a chance for families to break away from the sugar cane industry, providing a way to start independent livelihoods. Through years of labor and tenacity, coffee has left a deep-rooted legacy of opportunity.
“How blessed are we to preserve this?” says Malia Bolton Hind.
As owner of Kona Coffee and Tea and second vice president of the Kona Coffee Festival board, Bolton Hind’s commitment to the festival echoes far beyond her own business. She takes pride in honoring the pioneers who brought forth a world-renowned product and paved the way for future generations. Being raised in a family deeply connected to Kona’s land, she carries a profound reverence for her ancestors' achievements.
After moving back home as a young adult, Bolton Hind took over a business recognized for producing the best Kona coffee in 2003. Growing up around festival leaders who deeply impacted the community, she learned the value in bringing people of all generations together through coffee, food and storytelling.
“It’s the people who have served and are tied to this place in such a special way that get me excited to continue to serve—carrying those legacies and telling those stories,” Bolton Hind says.
Today, coffee is a habit for Malia—a ritual inviting her to pause and reflect. It is an exquisite reason to gather and engage in relationship building. The simplicity and joy found in those are what she wishes to share from the Kona community with the rest of the world—with aloha, of course.
Each year, the festival begins with a Lantern Parade, where participants showcase their cause with whimsical light displays while handing out treats to audience members. The procession leads to Hale Halawai, where vendors delight customers with food and merchandise, followed by an evening multicultural showcase. This celebration initiates a weeklong series of events around the Kona coast centered around culture, coffee and cuisine.
One of the most popular events is the Holualoa Coffee and Art Stroll, a lively gathering that invites participants to explore fragrant coffee tastings, local treats, handcrafted art and the scenic charm of Hōlualoa Village. In 2025, the Chef’s Pick award went to Nani Gourmet Coffee, while Hawaiian Goat Coffee earned the People’s Choice award.
The Little Miss Kona Coffee and Miss Kona Coffee pageants take place during the festival. Under the direction of Michelle Sakata Johnson and Ally Brown, young women are spotlighted as ambassadors of Kona’s heritage. These titleholders carry the island's spirit forth into their education and future endeavors with grace and beauty.
While the festival commemorates history, it also inspires and paves the way for the next wave of coffee enthusiasts. The Latte Art Throwdown is a spirited event that highlights emerging baristas. The 2025 Barista Champion, Micah Jackson, shared his talents with the Kona community in a lively event hosted by Kona Coffee and Tea. Spectators filled their social media platforms with photos and videos of the friendly competition.
Countless festivities take place throughout the week, culminating in the grand finale dinner gala, where local chefs compete for top honors. Guests gather around carefully plated dishes inspired by Hawai'i’s coffee heritage. In 2025, the fine-dining experience was hosted at the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa on a rain-kissed evening, while spirits were lulled to joyous glee by Grammy-nominated LT Smooth and band, along with Walt Keale and Chris Lau. Bryan Fujikawa of Kona Grill House catering was voted Top Chef for his mouthwatering smoked prime rib, paired with coffee chimichurri and lobster-crab cakes.
For farmers like Terry Martin, owner of ‘Ohana Martin Farms, the festival is a time to reflect with gratitude at the opportunities the land provides. While challenges such as beetles and crop pests persist, Martin said those tests have refined his craft and pushed him to innovate sustainably.
His Hōlualoa farm has produced award-winning coffee, earning a win at a cupping competition in 2024. Vital to their success is seed-to-cup processing. They handle picking, drying, roasting and packaging entirely in-house. This gives them an edge in quality control and an exquisite flavor profile that follows the seasons and the offerings of each harvest batch.
“The soil shapes and forms the taste,” Martin says.
Martin competes in the heritage category, which preserves the pure form of Kona Typica coffee—the variety that set the standard for Kona farmers generations ago. After his cupping competition win, judges asked why he would change anything when his farm was already producing excellence.
As a self-described purist, he is committed to tradition while acknowledging the need for innovation. As the global industry evolves, new coffee varieties—including Geisha and several experimental strains—have been introduced to Kona's unique growing conditions. These new approaches have introduced new categories to the cupping competition, such as inoculated coffee.
Coffee farms within the 100% Kona coffee region offer special tours during the festival, giving visitors a closer look at how coffee farming has evolved over the years. These experiences provide valuable insight into how the industry has shaped—and continues to transform—the Kona community.
From business owners and farmers to the islands’ youngest voices, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival unites its community around a shared vision: honoring the past while securing the future of Kona coffee.
Don’t miss out on the 2026 event! Visit KonaCoffeeFest.com for details.
“The soil shapes and forms the taste.”—Terry Martin, owner of ‘Ohana Martin Farms.
“It’s the people who have served and are tied to this place in such a special way that get me excited to continue to serve.”—Malia Bolton Hind.