Blog
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival marks 54 years of Hawaii’s most beloved brew | Local
The rich aroma of freshly roasted beans signals the return of Hawaii’s oldest food festival — the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival. Now in its 54th year, the 10-day celebration honors not just coffee, but the land, people, and culture that make Kona Coffee one of the world’s most prized brews.
KAILUA-KONA, Hawai’i (Island News) — The rich aroma of freshly roasted beans signals the return of Hawaii’s oldest food festival — the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival. Now in its 54th year, the 10-day celebration honors not just coffee, but the land, people, and culture that make Kona Coffee one of the world’s most prized brews.
Festival Button Chair Sammi Piasecki says Kona’s unique environment makes it unlike any other coffee region on Earth.
“We are so blessed to have Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea protecting us from huge weather events,” Piasecki explains. “They also temper the weather on this side of the island.”
Courtesy of Sammi Piasecki
Nestled between two volcanoes, the Kona district enjoys a rare and stable microclimate — bright morning sunshine, gentle afternoon clouds, and nourishing rains. Beneath it all lies volcanic soil, rich in minerals that nurture every bean to perfection.
But even paradise has its challenges. Piasecki’s own farm sits in an area that saw 200 inches of rain in just 21 months. Farmers also face threats from pests, coffee leaf rust, and ongoing labor shortages. To add to the struggle, current laws allow blends with only 51% Kona coffee to be marketed as Kona, something Piasecki believes diminishes the farmers’ craft.
Courtesy of Sammi Piaecki
“It devalues me and what I do to accept anything less than 100% Kona coffee,” she says.
Still, Kona’s farmers persevere, relying on generations of experience and passion. Piasecki herself first fell in love with Kona in 1976 and later founded Kona Sunset Coffee after retiring to the island.
This year’s festival offers tastings, tours, parades, performances, and more — all accessible with the purchase of the festival button, a long-standing tradition and collector’s item. At $15, the buttons are key to supporting the event’s future.
“We’ve lost a lot of funding,” Piasecki explains. “We have to learn to self-support, or we risk losing this festival. Selling these buttons is the best way we can keep it going.”
Festival buttons are available at KTA Stores, Choice Mart, Ace Hardware, Greenwell Farms, Buddha’s Cup, and various shops and restaurants across Kona.
As the festival celebrates over five decades of heritage, one thing remains clear — Kona Coffee isn’t just a drink; it’s the heart and soul of Hawaii’s Big Island. For more information, head over to the festival’s website.
