MEDIA RELEASE

The Royal Kona Resort hosts the second annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival beginning 2 p.m. Aug. 14. This event celebrates Don the Beachcomber and his legacy as the true inventor of the Mai Tai.

Throughout the day, shop at the Mai Tai Marketplace featuring local vendors selling artwork, crafts, clothing, and local produce.

Taste and vote for your favorite culinary creation in the World’s Best BBQ contest.

Enjoy culinary demonstrations while listening to musical entertainment.

Watch as bartenders from across the globe compete to win a $10,000 cash prize and earn the honor of creating the World’s Best Mai Tai.

To top this magical day off listen to a live, acoustic performance under the stars with best-selling rock band Third Eye Blind.

The day’s events are free and open to the public. Script will be sold for food and beverage purchases. Certain food and drinks will be sold via cash and credit.

Also happening in conjunction with the festival: Third Eye Blind in concert. Tickets ($35) are available at www.groovetickets.com.

Schedule of events

11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Battle of the BBQ and Mai Tai Marketplace at the Luau Grounds (Free Entry)
Come shop as local vendors from across Hawaii will display artwork, clothing and local produce. Script will be sold for tasters at many of the food booths competing for the Battle of the World’s Best BBQ. You’ll get to vote for your favorite and help choose the winner. Restaurants will be announced as the event draws closer. Enjoy cooking demonstrations while listening to musical entertainment.

Noon-1:30 p.m.
Live Music with Eric Gilliom

2-4 p.m.
Prepare for the Grand Mix-Off
More music and fun fills Don’s Mai Tai Bar as we prepare for the Grand Mix Off. Come eat, drink and be merry oceanfront – be sure to bring all your friends and family to this phenomenal event.

2-3:30 p.m.
Henry Kapono will be playing poolside

4 p.m.
Battle for the World’s Best Mai Tai & $10,000 Cash Prize. Enjoy the musings of MC Joey Gottesman as he walks us through a fast-paced and exciting mix-off featuring 30 of the world’s best mixologists. Watch as judges, William Ramos (head distiller for Bacardi Rum), Chris Teves (publisher of Hawaii Beverage Guide), and Beachbum Berry (world-famous rum and mai tai expert) make the hard decision of whose Mai Tai reigns supreme.

7:30 p.m.
And the winner is … The winner is Tiki’d and awarded the huge cash prize.

8 p.m.
Third Eye Blind – Live, Acoustic and Under the Stars

Since 1997, San Francisco’s Third Eye Blind have recorded three best-selling albums and assembled one career retrospective. 3EB released ‘Ursa Major’, their first studio collection in five years, in autumn 2009. Led by Stephan Jenkins, 3EB won wide success during a tumultuous group of years when the major-label recording industry was finally losing its grip on an enterprise that for decades it had dominated with steely efficiency. Nothing could have made 3EB happier! 3EB, however, experienced no comparable loss. Instead, they gained artistic clarification — and, surprisingly, a fan base larger than ever.

10 p.m.
The Party’s Not Over … Don’s Mai Tai Bar is still open – stick around relax and relish in this fabulous day!