Arts + Culture

Chapter of Thankfulness

Celebrating Kona Dance and Performance Art’s Tenth Anniversary and the Families Who Made It Happen Article by Samantha Arredondo | Photography by Kona Dance Performing Arts This year marked the tenth anniversary of Kona Dance & Performing Arts’ annual showcase and dance concert. What started as just a handful of families joining forces to bring performance arts accessibility to the Kona Coast has grown into a pillar of our community, with over 200 students passing through it each year.  Thus...

Arts + Culture

Kona’s Coffee Legacy

How the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Carries the Past With Joy and Celebration Article and Photography by Julia Silva Kurppa 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...

Arts + Culture

Resilience

Two Kona-Born Sisters Have Taken Their Nonprofit Advocacy Film to Global Red Carpets, Placing a Hawai'i-Based Crew Onto an International Platform Article by Julia Silva Kurppa | Photography by Julia Silva Kurppa, Kenna Cunningham Madi and Kenna Cunningham’s debut collaborative film, Resilience , is a stirring project that declares there is hope in a community that refuses to turn a blind eye. Built on four years of research, the sisters co-wrote and co-produced the project, guiding every...

Health + Wellness

Run for Hope

The 28th Annual Event at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai Article and Photography by Julia Silva Kurppa On a serene Hawaiian morning, hundreds of community members gathered at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai to cultivate change and hope for a world without cancer. This annual fundraiser traces its roots back to the 1980s, when Four Seasons founder Isadore Sharp supported Terry Fox—a young man who attempted to run across Canada on a prosthetic leg after losing his own to osteosarcoma. Mr. Sharp was...

Health + Wellness

Mahalo Nui Loa!

A Tribute to the Men and Women Dedicating Their Lives To Protecting Our Community Article and Photography by Julia Silva Kurppa In this season of gratitude, we recognize the selfless first responders who run toward danger while others seek safety. We honor these brave souls who carry the weight of our community's hardest moments, yet continue to show up ready to serve with aloha. “First responders are building something intangible. You can’t really quantify or put your hands to it, but the...

Life + Culture

Kona Public Library: A Beacon of Light and Knowledge

Serving Thousands Every Year—From Keiki to KūPuna—the Kona Public Library Deserves a Standing Ovation for Its Contribution to Our Community Article and Photography by Kona Coast Magazine Staff Team As a way to honor people you may recognize, Kona Coast Magazine collected some words from the library’s staff team. To all of them, thank you for what you do every day.    Julia, Children's Librarian I find the public library the place where I serve my community most. I love bringing characters...

Life + Culture

Kimi’s Kitchen

New Cookbook Provides Deep Dive Into Sustainable Wild Home Cooking Article by Margaret Kearns | Photography by Nicole Gormley Maui native Kimi Werner, a self-described hippie and hunter, grew up off-the-grid in Haiku following bubbles—bubbles created by her father Chris Werner’s skindiving fins. At just five years old, she tagged along with her free-diving dad on his spear fishing adventures in Maui’s pristine offshore waters. Mesmerized by the unique beauty of that undersea wonderland, Kimi...

Food + Beverage

Dreaming Bigger

Hōlualoa Native Mark Kove, Owner, Roaster and Latte Master Artist at White Nene Coffee Roasting Company, Is Growing Long-Term Relationships One Cup at a Time Article by Margaret Kearns | Photography by Fletch Photography Investing time, research and years of experimentation is brewing up success for 39-year-old entrepreneur Mark Kove, who says, “It’s okay to dream big and then dream even bigger, but the key is patience when you’re starting a small business. Things don’t happen overnight!” ...

Food + Beverage

Colorful Island Cooking

Roast Chicken Confetti Quinoa Salad with Macadamia Nut Pesto & Coconut Lime Fresca Article by Jasmine Silverstein | Photography by Fletch Photography Some of the best meals come together without much fuss: a leftover roasted chicken, some seasonal vegetables, fluffy quinoa and a handful of fresh herbs blended into something bright and flavorful. This Roast Chicken & Confetti Quinoa Salad is colorful, nourishing and endlessly adaptable—a celebration of the fresh, vibrant ingredients that make...

Health + Wellness

Royal Tea Time

Raising a Cup and Raising Funds Article by Margaret Kearns | Photography by Julia Silva Kurppa One of Kona’s most anticipated charity events takes place again this year at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Sunday, December 13. Now in its 15th year at the same gracious location, the Hospice of Kona’s Royal Holiday Tea features an extravagant midday celebration filled with love, memories and compassion for patients—those currently in hospice care and those lost—as well as the staff who cared...