MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawaii Coffee Association (HCA) will celebrate Hawaiian coffee and educate members, farmers and industry professionals at its 15th annual conference July 15-17 at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa.

This year’s event features the second annual statewide cupping competition for premium coffees collected from all of Hawaii’s diverse origins.

This year’s conference will feature a hands-on coffee cupping workshop designed to educate members and visitors about coffee cupping: the elements of nuance that include flavor, aroma, ‘mouth-feel’, acidity, sweetness and aftertaste.

An industry trade show includes keynote speaker Lt. Gov. and Hawaii gubernatorial candidate Duke Aiona, business commentator Howard Dicus, gourmet meals, scenic farm tours, a silent auction, and plenty of Hawaii’s premium coffees.

Schedule of Events

Thursday
8 a.m. – noon Cupping Competition – Cupping Room
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Trade Show Set Up
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Intro Cupping Class – Jay Isais & Jesse Martinez-Beltran – Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Sign up to taste some of Hawaii’s greatest coffee during this class.
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Welcome Reception – Heavy Pupus

Friday
8 a.m. – noon Cupping Competition – Cupping Room
8 a.m. – noon Farm Tours
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Lunch – Plated
1 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Official – Opening Remarks – Lt. Governor “Duke” Aiona
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Trade Show Opens
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Intro Cupping Class – Jay Isais & Jesse Martinez-Beltran – Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Sign up to taste some of Hawaii’s greatest coffee during this class.
4 p.m. – 5 p.m. ANNUAL MEETING – ELECTION OF BOARD
5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Processing Tour & Reception – Greenwell Farms

Saturday
8 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Cupping Competition – Cupping Room
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Trade Show Open
8 a.m. – 9 a.m. – Coffee Break
9 a.m. – 9 a.m. – Coffee Origin/Authenticity – Coffea Consulting & Russell Frew/Oritain
9 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. – Coffee Break
9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – Developing Asian Markets – Sharon Hurd – USDA
10:15 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Coffee Break
10 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. – CTAHR Update – Skip Bittenbender, Phd. UH
11:15 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Coffee Break
11 a.m. – noon – HARC Update – Chifumi Nagai, Phd.
Noon – 1 p.m. – Lunch – Buffet
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Growers Report- Hawaii Coffee Growers Association
3 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. – Coffee Break
3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. – Hawaii Dept of Ag Update & Outlook – Sandra Kunimoto, Chairperson of the Hawaii State Board of Agriculture
3:45 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Coffee Break
4 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Importance of Cupping – Cupping Panel – Scoring & Announcement of District Winners
5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Cocktails – Ballroom
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Dinner & Presentation of the Overall Champion – Keynote Speaker – Howard Dicus – “Hawaii News Now”

— Find out more:
www.hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/hca-conference.ph