MEDIA RELEASE

Kona coffee will take center stage at the 42nd annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival kicking off Nov. 2. Several festival events are calling local residents and visitors to take part in the Festival fun.

Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Parade

The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Parade Committee invites the community to enter the 42nd annual parade at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10.

Community groups are encouraged to get their entries in, deadline has been extended to Friday, Nov. 3.

UCC Hawaii Kona Coffee Picking Contest

Rise early on Sunday Nov. 4. Registration starts at 7:30 am at the Ueshima coffee farm in Holualoa. Coffee pickers of all ages and experience are welcome.

KTA Super Stores Kona Coffee Recipe Contest

Got a favorite recipe using 100% Kona coffee? Hurry up and enter in the professional, amateur, culinary student and keiki divisions for great cash prizes and bragging rights.

Deadline to enter is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Kona Coffee Art Show and Competition

Art must be on the theme of coffee, either by subject matter or medium. Entry form and pictures of your creation will be due on Oct. 31. There may be three items entered for judging per artist. Entry fee is $5 for each item.

Pieces shown in past year’s shows or other non-entries may be shown on a space available basis.

Kona Coffee Cupping Classic Competition

Only growers of 100% Kona coffee may enter their coffee in the Classic competition. Submitted coffee must be seven (7) pounds of 100% Kona green beans.

Entries should be dropped off at the CTAHR Cooperative Extension Office in Kainaliu, 8am – 4pm, Monday, Oct. 22 through Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Kona Crown competition is reserved for the larger farms and professional processing mills. Only growers or process of 100% Kona coffee may enter coffee in the Crown competition. Submitted coffee must be 1000 pounds of 100% Kona green beans.

Entry deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 31. For more details see the official rules and contact cupping@KonaCoffeeCouncil.com.

Kona Coffee Lei Contest

This popular event is part of the Kona Coffee Marketplace–Festival
of Artists and Ethnic Foods at Makaeo County pavilion Saturday, Nov. 10. There will be two categories Wili and Kui and cash prizes for 1-3 places.

Entries must be submitted by 10am Saturday, Nov. 12 at Makaeo County pavilion.

The award-winning Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is recognized as the oldest and one of the most successful food festivals in Hawaii.

The 2012 Festival, Nov. 2-11, includes 10 days of events that promote Hawaii’s unique culture and diversity and supports the Festival’s mission to preserve, perpetuate and promote Kona’s unique coffee heritage.

The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is supported as a ‘Major Festival’ by Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) and is made possible through the support of UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., Ltd., Kamehameha Schools, Alaska Airlines, Kamehameha Investment Corporation and KTA Super Stores.

The festival is further supported by Kawakami Family of Captain Cook Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation, Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union, West Hawaii Today and numerous other corporate and community donors.

For further information and entry forms are available at www.konacoffefest.com