MEDIA RELEASE

The Ka‘u Coffee Festival offers new fun activities to its lineup of May 2-11.

Now in its sixth year, the festival showcases its award-winning coffees and everything that makes the sprawling Ka‘u District so special — the rural area covers 922 square miles and encompasses the entire southern end of the Big Island.

Kicking off the festival is the inaugural Pa‘ina & Open House at historic Pahala Plantation House with the Ka‘u Chamber of Commerce and Ka‘u Calendar newspaper.

Pa‘ina means party in Hawaiian and fun includes guided house tours, music, hula by Halau Hula O Leionalani and refreshments—including Ka‘u coffee.

Bolo will also release his new CD that contains the song “Kaiholena,” that tells about the people and places of Ka‘u.

During the heyday of Big Isle sugar production, Pahala Plantation House served as the manager’s home of the former Ka‘u Sugar Plantation.

Now an inn and community gathering place, the House has been painstakingly restored to maintain the integrity and history of Hawaii’s sugar era.

Enjoy guided tours of the spacious interior that boasts high ceilings, a large dining hall, antiques, artwork and a baby grand piano in the foyer. Time is 5:30-9 p.m. Friday, May 2 at the corner of Maile and Pikake Streets in Pahala.

Admission is free and donations are appreciated for the Miss Ka‘u Coffee Scholarship Fund, 808-928-9811.

The annual Miss Ka‘u Coffee Pageant is part of a festival doubleheader with the Triple C Recipe Contest on Sunday, May 2 at the Ka‘u Coffee Mill.

Starting at noon, the Triple C Recipe Contest offers a new cake competition category, along with cookies and candy—all must contain K‘au coffee. Contestants vie for free in either adult amateur or student (middle or high school) divisions to win cash prizes.

Contest entry deadline is April 25. Public admission is free with complimentary coffee and recipe sampling. Find contest details at www.kaucoffeemill.com.

On Sunday evening, the 2014-15 Miss Ka‘u Coffee and junior Miss Ka‘u Peaberry Pageant is open to contestants who were either born, grew up or now live in Ka‘u.

Girls are judged for talent, public speaking, gown and Miss Popularity. Winners are awarded scholarships.

A mahalo party for the reigning queens is 6 p.m., followed by the pageant at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 with additional donations appreciated.

The annual Coffee & Cattle Day 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, May 9 showcases Ka‘u agriculture at the 150-acre Aikane Plantation with a tour of a working ranch/farm, followed by a luncheon buffet.

Co-owner Merle Becker says her great-grandfather, “Papa” J. C. Searle, planted coffee there in 1894 and keiki from Searle’s trees are grown today by numerous Ka‘u farmers. The Beckers oversee eight acres of coffee, a Black Angus cattle operation, plus plantings of exotic protea, sugar cane, macadamia nuts, citrus, avocado, taro, pineapple and papaya.

The buffet will offer grass-fed beef, pork and chicken; a variety of side dishes and desserts made with Ka‘u coffee. Price is $25, make reservations at 808-927-2252.

The all-day Ka‘u Coffee Festival Hoolaulea on Saturday, May 10 is free and features day-long entertainment. It hosts a variety of art, craft, information and food booths; and some of the finest coffees grown anywhere.

The Ka‘u Coffee Experience has a new twist with free coffee tastings guided by professional baristas at the Pahala Community Center. Coffee enthusiasts can sample Ka‘u coffees prepared in a variety of ways — like a pour-over or a French press, cold brew and espresso drinks.

The festival is supported by the county Department of Research & Development, Hawaii Tourism Authority and state Department of Agriculture.

Ka‘u Coffee Festival Schedule

Friday May 2: 5:30-9 p.m.

Pa‘ina Open House at historic Pahala Plantation House with Ka‘u Chamber of Commerce and Ka‘u Calendar. Music, hula, food and house tours. Donations accepted for Miss Ka‘u Coffee Scholarship Fund. Corner of Maile and Pikake in Pahala. 808-928-9811.

Saturday May 3

Taste Success: 4th Annual Ka‘u Farmers’ Table at Kalaekilohana Inn and Retreat features locally sourced fine dining, premium live entertainment, and has been sold out three years running. Advance only tickets are $75 at www.kau-hawaii.com.

Sunday May 4

Triple C Recipe offers competition in cookies, candies and cakes at noon, all made with provided Ka‘u coffee. Attendance and coffee tasting are free; find contest entry info at kaucoffeemill.com.

Sunday, May 4

Doors open 6 p.m. for the annual Miss Ka‘u Coffee Pageant at Ka‘u Coffee Mill. For more information visit www.KauCoffeeFest.com.

During the week visit Ka‘u coffee farms. Enjoy the scenic and historic beauty of Ka‘u, Punaluu Black Sand Beach, Honuapo fishponds, the cliffs of Ka Lae – the southernmost place in the U.S., and the nearby Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Stay in one of the many accommodations in Ka‘u. Visit www.kaucoffeefest.com for participating coffee farms and accommodations.

Wednesday May 7

Explore flume systems of the sugarcane era and development of hydroelectric power on a Ka‘u Mountain Water System Hike in the Wood Valley rainforest 9 a.m.-2 p.m. $40 includes lunch. Limited to 30. Visit www.kaucoffeemill.com or phone 808-928-0550.

Friday May 9

Enjoy Coffee & Cattle Day at Aikane Plantation Coffee farm at 10 a.m., where descendants of the first coffee farmer in Ka‘u explain how coffee is integrated into other agriculture. $25 fee includes an all-you can eat buffet. Visit www.aikaneplantation.com or phone 808-927-2252.

Friday May 9

Observe the heavens from the summit of Makanau at Ka‘u Star Gazing, 5:30-10 p.m. $35 with refreshments. To sign up, see www.kaucoffeemill.com or call 808-928-0550.

Saturday, May 10

Tantalize your taste buds at the Ka‘u Coffee Festival Hoolaulea, with a full day of music, hula, food, local crafts, free guided coffee tastings and farm/mill tours at the Pahala Community Center. Festival entry is free; farm tours with van transport are $20. Call 808-929-9550 or visit www.KauCoffeeFest.com.

Sunday, May 11

Learn about the coffee industry at the Ka‘u Coffee College at Pahala Community Center. Free, donations appreciated. Also, $20 farm/mill tours continue. Call 808-929-9550 or visit www.KauCoffeeFest.com.

Founded in coffee traditions hailing to the 1800s — plus the hard work of former sugar plantation workers — Ka‘u coffee burst onto the specialty coffee scene by winning numerous coffee quality awards. These accolades highlight the unique combination of people and place that makes Ka‘u coffee a favorite across the globe. The festival’s mission is to raise awareness of Ka‘u as a world-class, coffee-growing origin.

Ka‘u Coffee Festival vendor and sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more information and festival updates, call 929-9550 or visit www.kaucoffeefest.com