Ka‘u: Coffee is Our Specialty!

Mahalo to our supporters, friends and family for a successful weekend of coffee, food, crafts and fun!

Thousands of people joined us in Pahala to celebrate the Ka‘u Coffee Festival ho‘olaule‘a on Saturday. After many days of clouds and rain, the skies cleared and the sun shined throughout the morning. In the afternoon, the clouds returned to keep festival-goers cool, while mist enveloped Cloud Rest and the other Ka‘u Coffee-growing areas above Pahala. 

Skylark emceed throughout the day of entertainment, coffee tastings and recipe contest.
 

Mayor Billy Kenoi made an appearance and congratulated Bull and Jamie Kailiawa for their recent win as one of the top ten coffees in the world. He said it’s a win for all of Ka‘u.

Ka‘u Coffee Recipe and Taste of Ka‘u Contest:

Crystal McIntosh was named the overall winner. Here is her winning original Ka‘u coffee recipe:

Strawberry Mocha Trifle
     Brownies: 1 cup butter, melted; 2 c. sugar; 4 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, 2/3 c. cocoa, 1 1/3 c. flour, 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 c. white chocolate chips, Ka‘u macadamia nuts chopped, ½ tsp baking powder, ½ tsp. salt, 1 c. Ka‘u coffee, Hershey’s syrup, 1 pint whipping cream, 6 Tbs. sugar, 2 tsp vanilla, 5 c. strawberries soaked in 2 c. melted strawberry jam.
     Garnishes: 1 Ka‘u strawberry, 2 chocolate leaves (1/4 c. semisweet chocolate chips melted + 2 Ka‘u lemon leaves, clean)
     Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease 13X9 pan. Stir butter and sugar until blended. Beat in eggs, then vanilla, until well blended. Stir in cocoa, mixing well. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into small bowls; stir together. Add flour mixture to chocolate batter, mixing until smooth. Stir in semi-sweet and white chocolate chips. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts. Bake 25-30 minutes or until firm. Cool, and then cut into 1-inch cubes. Place half of brownie cubes on bottom of large glass bowl. Brush with coffee, then drizzle with Hershey’s syrup. Layer ½ of strawberries using slotted spoon, then ½ of whipped cream. Repeat layers, garnish with strawberry and chocolate leaves.
     Whipped Cream – beat whipping cream and sugar in chilled bowl until stiff. Add vanilla in last minute of beating.
     Chocolate leaves – brush melted chocolate onto one side of clean leaves until covered. Freeze overnight or until firm. Peel off lemon leaves. 

The two-day festival wound up with a day of education on Sunday from coffee roasters, buyers and café chain owners who have been in the business for many years. They stressed the importance of the place, which they admired as a good coffee growing location in the mountains of Ka‘u. They stressed good farm practices, processing and storage and described many techniques to farmers on hand. They noted that the best coffee can bring a high price to people who want the highest grade coffee for their restaurants, stores and homes.

Recently in the news:

The Ka‘u Coffee Festival made the front page of West Hawai‘i Today on Sunday. Reporter Chelsea Jensen quoted Joann Norberte as saying, “Ka‘u Coffee is like Kona’s younger, hotter sister.” Promoter of her family’s JN Coffee Farms, Norberte told West Hawai‘i Today that “coffee all happened in Kona first, and we were able to learn from the good and bad to create a special coffee.” Joann Norberte, daughter of Leo and Herme Norberte, grew up in Pahala and lives in Las Vegas, where she promotes here family coffee online and to buyers and at conventions. The farm has 25 acres and produces 200,000 pounds of cherry each year. She also told the newspaper that she knows that the Ka‘u farmers will pull together to keep the coffee borer pest from spreading and ruining crops.

Ka`u Coffee Festival This Weekend

The Miss Ka`u Coffee Court will be on hand at the Ka`u Coffee
 Festival tomorrow at Pahala Community Center after they
 parade through the town.  Photo by Anna Kailiawa

THE KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL KICKS OFF at 9 a.m. tomorrow, May 14 at Pahala Community Center just off Hwy 11 between Punalu`u Black Sand Beach and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Enjoy award-winning Ka`u coffee, entertainment, food, contests, local crafts and games. Meet Miss Ka`u Coffee and her court. Admission is free.

LEADERS OF THE SPECIALTY COFFEE INDUSTRY are traveling to Ka`u, the state’s largest agricultural district, this weekend to learn about award-winning Ka`u Coffee. Representing three areas of the U.S. Mainland, they include specialty coffee guru George Howell, of Terroir Coffee in Action in Massachusetts; Skip Fay, of Dunn Bros. Coffee in Minneapolis; and James Freeman, of Blue Bottle Coffee in Oakland, California. George Howell shares his coffee expertise at the Ka`u Coffee College this Sunday.
     The coffee experts are participating in Ka`u Coffee’s inaugural reverse trade mission as part of the third Ka`u Coffee Festival May 14-15 at the Pahala Community Center. They will learn first-hand about Ka`u Coffee during Saturday festival activities, including guided tastings and farm tours. On Sunday, the men will give guest lectures to local coffee farmers at the free Ka`u Coffee College.
     A pioneer of the specialty coffee movement in the early 1970s, George Howell founded The Coffee Connection, a high-end coffee retailer that was acquired by Starbucks in 1994. He is an expert on single-origin coffee.
     Marshall “Skip” Fay is executive vice president of Dunn Bros. Coffee Franchising, Inc. He opened Dunn’s first franchised coffee house and roastery in 1994, and today there are 90 locations.
     Named one of the New York Times’ “Nifty 50,” James Freeman is on coffee’s radar for his Blue Bottle coffee company in the San Francisco Bay Area. Freeman’s network of coffee carts and cafes offers carefully made coffee drinks, and he is committed to selling beans less than 48 hours out of the roaster.”
     The reverse trade mission is sponsored by the state Department of Agriculture and the Ka`u Coffee Festival.

Saturday's Schedule of Events:

Food, Coffee, Craft and Information Booths and Entertainment: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m

Ka`u Coffee Tasting: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., free

Ka`u Coffee Recipe Contest Judging and Tasting: 12 p.m., $5 per person (includes Festival Button)

Farm Tours, $15 donation, all day long.

The entertainment lineup, starting at 9 a.m. is: Opening by Miss Ka`u Coffee and Emcee Skylark; Hands of Time; Tony Salvage; Bobby Koanui; Lorna and Mary Ann Lim; Hula by Miss Ka`u Coffee Brandy Shibuya and presentation of her court; Debbie Ryder and Halau Hua O Leionalani; Bolo; Brittany Paiva; Demetrius and Friends; Cyril Pahinui; Ka`u `Ukulele Kids; Gene Akamu; Lori Lei's Hula Studio; George, Moses and Keoki Kahumoku; and One Journey.

Sunday's Schedule of Events:

Ka`u Coffee College: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Farm Tours, $15 donation

Sponsors for 2011: Aikane Coffee Plantation; Ali`i Coffee; Big Island Honda; Big Island RC & DC;

County of Hawai`i; Crop Production Services; Edmund C. Olson Trust II; Fernandez Farm; Festivals of Hawai`i; Gascon Coffee Farm; GEICO; Hana Hou Restaurant; Hawai`i Coffee Association; Hawai`i Department of Agriculture; Hawai`i Tourism Authority; JN Coffee; Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative; Ka`u Coffee Mill; Ka`u Farm and Ranch Company; Ka`u Local Products; KAHU Radio 91.7FM; Kailiawa Coffee; Kehau Coffee; Kuahiwi Ranch Natural Beef; Ka`u Forest Coffees; ML Macadamia Orchards; `O Ka`u Kakou; OK Farms; Orcino Coffee Farm; Osama Coffee Farm; Pacific Quest; Pahala Plantation Cottages; Palehua Farmers Cooperative; Punalu`u Bake Shop; R & G Coffee Farm; Rusty’s Hawaiian; Sambajon Farms; The Ka`u Calendar; and The Local Buzz.

Ka'u: Best coffee region in the USA

Bull Kailiawa, who won top in Hawai`i and U.S.A. and is
one of the top ten in the world at SCAA this year,
checks his coffee. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

If you've had the opportunity to taste award-winning Ka'u Coffee, you'll most likely agree with the decision of this year's Specialty Coffee Association of America Cupping Competition judges to rank a coffee grown in Cloud's Rest as not only number one of Hawai'i but the whole U.S.A. Bull Kailiawa, a native Hawaiian coffee grower, showed the world just how special Ka'u is when his hand-picked coffee from his farm just above Pahala was placed as one of the top ten coffee's in the world!

Bull Kailiawa  Photo by Teresa Tico

Hawai`i was honored at the annual SCAA convention in Houston last weekend as one of the top ten coffee growing places in the world. Ka`u was rated the top region in Hawai`i, and Bull was the top scoring coffee farmer. This is the fifth straight year that Ka`u coffee has ranked in the top dozen.

Last year’s winner was Willie Tabios, of Na`alehu.
  

Top Hawai`i winner at the SCAA Bull Kailiawa works with a volunteer volleyball
 team on new coffee fields along Hwy 11 at Pahala.  Photo by Julia Neal

Bull Kailiawa’s typica coffee ranked in the top ten worldwide alongside two coffees from Colombia, two from Honduras, two from El Salvador, two from Guatemala and one from Bolivia.

Bull noted that all three of the Ka`u Coffee SCAA winners in the last five years are former plantation workers who were leased land by the sugar plantation when it shut down in 1996. He said the three have been like brothers, working in the fields and as truck and crane operators in the sugar industry, then helping each other out on their coffee farms. Bull has scored in the top ten internationally twice, Willie Tabios twice, and Manuel Marques once in five straight years of Ka`u Coffee making a name for Hawai`i at the annual Coffee of the Year event. Bull and other Ka'u coffee farmers like Lorie Obra found themselves in Texas last week, serving up Ka`u Coffee at a pavilion showing off the winners at the Houston Convention Center.

Pete Licata, of Honolulu Coffee Co.,
used Lorie Obra's Rusty's Hawaiian
100% Ka`u Coffee in the barista
competition at SCAA.

Also from Ka'u, Rusty's Hawaiian 100% Ka`u Coffee was a key element in the creation of the 2011 United States Barista Championship entry of Pete Licata, of Honolulu Coffee Company. Pete is a frequent visitor to the home of Lorie Obra and her farm above Pahala. 

Lorie Obra's contingent at the SCAA
convention in Houston sported Team
Hawai`i T-shirts.

During his presentation, he provided visual images of her Cloud Rest farm on a small countertop screen for the judges, and said he picked and dried the coffee and followed it through all its process. He made three progressive drinks from the coffee, including a tea from the coffee cherry and the final espresso.

Pete Licata holds his award for U.S. Barista Champion that he
won using Rusty's Hawaiian 100% Ka`u Coffee.

Using Rusty's Hawaiian 100% Ka`u Coffee, Pete won the U.S. Barista Championship in Houston on Sunday. He will attend the Ka`u Coffee Festival on May 14 and head for Bogota, Colombia, with Rusty's in June for the World Barista Championship. Obra and her daughter, son and son-in-law were on hand at the U.S. competition in Houston this weekend wearing Team Hawai`i T-shirts.

Bull Kailiawa holds his award for
Best of Origin USA/Hawai`i.
Photos by Julia Neal

Bull Kailiawa received his award as one of the top ten coffees in the world and first in Hawai`i and the U.S.A. on Sunday from the SCAA and the Roasters Guild.

If you haven't tasted Ka'u Coffee yet, you haven't had the best. Join Bull, Lorie, Pete and the rest of us at this year's Ka'u Coffee Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 14-15, at the Ka'u Community Center in Pahala, Hawai'i!

Winners of the 2011 Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant

Miss Ka'u Coffee Brandy Shibuya shares the spotlight with Young Miss Ka'u Coffee Dayse Meleani Andrade and Miss Ka'u Peaberry Rebecca Lynn Kailiawa-Escobar.  Photos by Julia Neal

Every contestant of the 2011 Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant performed with grace, showcasing an array of talent and original works. If you happen by any of our participants, make sure to share your appreciation for her bravery, intellect, aptitude and creativity. For each of our beautiful candidates embodies the spirit of Ka'u - however only one can be named queen.

Brandy Shibuya became Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen last night after performing a hula to Poliahu. “It has always been a dream of mine to represent Hawai'i and make a difference in the world,” she said. She described her home of Ka'u as “over 922 square miles of rich sacred land, holding the most powerful Hawaiian history.” She said she is “intrigued by its cultural diversity and natural beauty.” 

First Miss Ka'u Coffee Princess Jaeneise Cuison, Miss Ka'u Coffee Brandy Shibuya and Second Miss Ka'u Coffee Princess Brandy Eder.

First Miss Ka'u Coffee Princess, Jaeneise Cuison, danced Tahitian. She said she has a “passion for volleyball, baking assorted desserts and spending time at the beach with family.” She plans to become a nurse and “help the needy and the sick in our community.”

Second Princess is Brandy Eder, who performed her own piano composition. She said she would love to be a doctor. “What I love the most about Ka'u is the aloha spirit, the way everyone is like family.” She said she wants to help solve the problem of domestic abuse, especially identifying teens with physical and verbal abuse problems through counseling in the schools. 

Young Miss Ka'u Coffee,
Dayse Meleani Andrade.

The new Young Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen is Dayse Meleani Andrade. She said she likes to dance, sing and play sports and wants to become a pediatrician. She says she loves living in Ka'u because “all of my family and friends are here, and because the beaches are beautiful.” Her talent was dance. Shailei-Marie Penera was named First Princess and Malia Corpuz was named Second Princess.

Miss Ka'u Peaberry,
Rebecca Lynn Kailiawa-Escobar

The new Miss Ka'u Peaberry Queen is Rebecca Lynn Kailiawa-Escobar. She likes to play soccer and volleyball and make beaded jewelry. She says she wants to be a scientist because she loves nature and could “warn everyone in the world before anything happened.” She said she loves living in Ka'u because we have “fishing, farming, hunting, and ranching. Ka'u is the only district with untouched beauty,” she proclaimed. Her talent was hip hop. Tatiana Ka'awa was named First Princess, and Cherrisse Calumpit was named Second Princess.

Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant director Gloria Camba and
  her partner Rogelio Aquino.  Photo by Julia Neal

Winners of the 2011 Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant are already gearing up for their first public appearance. It will be this Saturday at the Merrie Monarch Parade in Hilo. Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen Brandy Shibuya and her court, First Princess Jaeneise Cuison and Second Princess Brandy Eder, will be representing Ka'u Coffee this Saturday at the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade in Hilo. Also representing Ka'u Coffee at the parade will be Young Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen Dayse Meleani Andrade and her court, First Princess Shailei-Marie Penera and Second Princess Malia Corpuz, and Miss Ka'u Peaberry Queen Rebecca Lynn Kailiawa-Escobar and her court, First Princess Tatiana Ka'awa and Second Princess Cherrisse Calumpit. The two floats entered in this year's Merrie Monarch Royal Parade are sponsored by the Ka'u Coffee Growers Cooperative.

Ulu Makuakane, 2010 Ka'u Coffee Queen, welcomed
 the 2011 Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen at the pageant.
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

The sold-out pageant drew many scholarship contributions and was emceed by Kahikina and KAHU public radio’s own Deevah. Scholarships, to be saved for higher education of the winners, were donated by the Edmund C. Olson Trust, 'Aina Koa Pono, the Ka'u Federal Credit Union, Golden Pacific Farms, Sen. Gil Kahele, Rep. Bob Herkes, Punalu'u Bakeshop, KAHU RADIO 91.7 FM, Ka`u Coffee Mill, R&G Mini Mart, Ka'u Royal Coffee, The Ka'u Calendar newspaper and hundreds of $5 donations to Friends of Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant.

Pageant director Gloria Camba said that all the work was worthwhile since so much of the community participated and enjoyed supporting the talent and education of Ka'u youth. 

Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen Brandy
Shibuya dancing hula.  
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen Brandy Shibuya says her "dream has always been to represent Hawaii by truly making a difference in the world." She is "honored and blessed to devote herself to the Ka'u Coffee industry, with dignity and pride." Her platform is "emphasizing the importance of education by strengthening children, youth & communities." She says she believes it is vitally important to know ones culture and to embrace uniqueness and encourages people to "strive to your full potential in all aspects of life." Brandy says "I am so proud of all the contestants who came out this year and wish them all the best of luck in their future ambitions." She also says she gives a "special Mahalo to all the Ka'u coffee farmers, let this year be a prosperous one for all of us."

Congratulations to the candidates and winners of the 2011 Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant!

Ka'u Coffee Recipe Contest and Taste of Ka'u

ATTENTION: Application deadline has been moved forward to May 7, 2011.

The Ka'u Coffee Festival Recipe Contest 2011 and Taste of Ka'u is up and running again for this years event on Saturday, May 14, at 12 noon in the Pahala Community Center. Win cash and prizes for your original recipe showcasing Ka'u coffee and other products of Ka'u!

Entries will be accepted through May 7, 2011, in the following categories:

• Dessert I: Cakes, cookies, and pies
• Dessert II: Drinks, candies, other desserts
• Main course/Entrée
• Smoke meat, pupu/appetizers, savory snacks

Applications can be downloaded from the home page of our website: www.kaucoffeefestival.com. Entry forms are also available at R & G Store in Pahala. For more information, call Michelle Galimba at 430-4927 or email info@kaucoffeefestival.com. Applications must be submitted in person, by email info@kaucoffeefestival.com, or by fax (929-7009) before May 7, 2011.

Each first place winner will take home $100.00, second and third place finishers will receive prizes or gift certificates. In addition, the highest scoring recipe will win the Best Taste of Ka'u, taking home $250.00 cash!

Contestants are welcome to compete in any one to all four categories listed above, however, each contestant is only allowed to compete in one of the following divisions:

• Professional (working chefs, culinary teachers or post-secondary students of the culinary arts)
• Amateur (adults who simply enjoy cooking)
• Students (High School and Middle School students who enjoy cooking)

For each completed entry form, entrants have until May 7 to pickup a free six-ounce bag of Ka'u Coffee from R & G Store in Pahala, 928-8558, to use in their creation(s).

Important rules to follow:

• More Ka'u ingredients used means more points earned, so make sure to list all ingredients grown in Ka'u
• All entries must contain Ka'u Coffee
• All recipes must be alcohol-free
• No cooking facilities will be available at the Community Center, so be sure to do all cooking beforehand!
• Each entry must be plated and presented at the Pahala Community Center no later than 1pm on Saturday, May 14, 2011.
• Be prepared to distribute at least 20 samples per entry during the tasting session, which is after the judging. Entrants must present at judging and tasting to win.
• Entries are presented to judges anonymously so no monograms or signatures please.
• Recipes will be included in a Ka'u Coffee Festival Cookbook, so make sure it's an original! By entering the contest, entrants give the Ka'u Coffee Festival Committee permission to publish their recipes.

 Showcase your creativity and culinary skills at the Ka'u Coffee Festival's Ka'u Coffee Recipe Contest!

Progress Towards a Successful Pageant

As most of you are aware, our 3rd annual Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant takes off this coming Saturday, April 23, starting at 5:30pm in the Ka'u High School gym. Watch our contestants shine on stage as they come into their own, as courteous and skilled young women of Ka'u.

We are very thankful to the of hundreds of community members who each donated $5 to become Friends of Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant. They helped us raise more than $4,000 to support the event, the activities of the candidates and winners and for scholarships. The event is sold out so make sure to purchase your ticket well in advance for next year's pageant.

Our candidates experienced the first round of competition on Monday as they traveled to Hilo for the pre-pageant interviews with the judges in the County Building. This year's judges are: Leslie Apoliana, of Kamehameha Schools; Norman Arancon, a professor at University of Hawai`i-Hilo; Dina Kageler, a teacher at Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences; Jenilee Keliinani Waipa, of HomeStreet Bank; and Jennifer Naiga-Ka`aihui, a former Miss Hawai`i Island Filipina who works for the Police Department.

Kahikina and Deevah will emcee the pageant. Kahikina, also known as the Polynesian Pirate and Tommy Ching, has been grand marshal of the Ka`u Fourth of July Parade and an emcee for many music workshops, events and radio shows on this island. The Deevah is a soulful singer and radio announcer on KAHU 91.7 FM public radio in Ka`u. Also known as Denise Peralta, she resides in Pahala and covers the 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. broadcast on KAHU. She also performs with Demetrius Oliveira and his band Keaiwa.

There will be food offered for sale before the pageant and during intermission.

Hopefully, we'll see you there this Saturday for a fun-filled evening of friendly competition!

Read bios of this year's contestants:
Miss Ka'u Coffee
Young Miss Ka'u Coffee
Miss Ka'u Peaberry

Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant Program for 2011

More about this year's Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant

Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant, 2011

Miss Ka`u Coffee 2010 Alesha Makuakane (Ulu) visited with the 2011 Ka`u Coffee candidates and talked about her reign as Miss Ka`u Coffee and practiced the runway walk with each girl. Ulu said that in the months leading up to her debut she was so dedicated that she practiced any where at any time, even wearing her heels to school and performing her walk during recess in the yard. "The other kids would ask me what I was doing and I explained that I was in a pageant," said Ulu. She added that it may have looked strange to others, but she didn't care. She did her own thing and it paid off in the end.

 

In preparation for their debut at the Miss Ka’u Coffee 2011 pageant, contestants have been practicing hard, with dance, beauty, and health lessons as well as coffee education and etiquette coaching.

Nalani Parlin, Pageant Show Director and Choreographer, is in charge of organizing and scheduling each lesson so that every contender has the opportunity to take away valuable life skills just by competing. The girls are encouraged to always be gracious and confident. Nalani is teaching the young contenders that being polite, having good posture and sharing aloha should not be taken for granted. The titles of Miss Ka’u Coffee, Young Miss Ka’u Coffee and Miss Peaberry are honors awarded in each category to those not only talented and well spoken, but also good representatives of Ka’u.

Below are a few lessons each candidate has been involved in:

Contenders visited the coffee farms of Berta and Jose Miranda and Manuel Marques at Moa’ula for a photo and educational session. Farmers Gloria Camba, Pageant Chair, and Manuel Marques explained coffee farming and harvesting practices.

Myrajean Sumida, of Motives Cosmetics, volunteered to give young pageant candidates and parents make-up tips. Candidates had the opportunity to have make-up applied, foundation mixed to match their specific skin tones and mix their very own blush.

Aesthetician Ursula D'Angelo, of Beauty Calls, has been working with Kaʻū Coffee Pageant candidates to help them care for their skin. "It's never too early to start taking care of your skin," advised D'Angelo. She brought fresh ingredients that can be found in the home - such as honey, avocado, oatmeal, green tea and yogurt - and let the girls concoct their own facial masks. The contestants topped off their faces with seaweed, which is used in spa treatments to smooth and tone skin.

Nalani has been working hard in the Old Pahala Clubhouse with the girls at practicing their group dance number, walking and presenting themselves properly. Each contestant has also been individually practicing her talent for the fast approaching pageant, Saturday, April 23, 5:30pm in the Ka’u High School Gym. Read biographies and see photos of our contestants for Miss Ka’u Coffee, Young Miss Ka’u Coffee, or Miss Peaberry or visit our website: kaucoffeefestival.com.

Tickets are sold out to this event, but donations are still being accepted. Nalani says she is hoping to receive prize donations for the Mahalo Drawing. The drawing is to thank sponsors, donors and friends of the Ka'u Coffee Pageant, who are automatically entered.  

Hosting a Booth at the Ka'u Coffee Festival

During the last two Ka'u Coffee Festivals, the public enjoyed a range of multi-ethnic foods and deserts from Asian to Hawaiian to Paniolo styles. Local coffee products are high in supply, providing treats from hot/iced coffee to deserts. Craft booths are also a popular destination for festival goers as local artists and artisans showcase their creations, both small and large. Join our Ho'olaule'a (celebration) this year as either a festival goer, vendor, or contestant!

BOOTH APPLICATIONS OPEN UNTIL APRIL 14, 2011

Looking for ways to promote your business or product? Host a booth at the 2011 Ka'u Coffee Festival and get loads of exposure while celebrating Ka'u Coffee on Saturday, May 14. Make sure to visit our website to download the following applications (both are required)

• Vendor Registration Application
• Hawai'i County Vendor Permit Application

 Here are a few important things to know before applying:

THERE WILL BE NO DUPLICATION OF HOT FOOD SOLD. You are limited to two different food items. Example: Teri Beef and hot dog. Also, no two booths will be allowed to sell beverages (water, soda, or juice). And, only the Ka’u Coffee Growers Cooperative will be able to sell hot/iced coffee. Your signs will indicate your product being sold per approval.

Each vendor is responsible for the following:

• $10.00(info.)/$50.00(reg.)/$100.00(food) booth fee made payable to “Ka’u Coffee Festival“, by April 14, 2011. 
• 10x10 tent, tables, chairs, signs and all other equipment. 
• Department of Health Permit, if serving food items ($25.00).
• Proof of Certified Kitchen, if serving food items.
• Vendor Permit form from the County of Hawaii ($25.00).
• Proof of General Excise License. 
• Good housekeeping in assigned booth space. 
• Removal of vehicles from event vendor area by 8:00 a.m. 
• Ready to serve the public at 9:00 a.m. 
• No smoking in non-smoking areas. 

*Anyone caught in violation of this agreement, which you agree to by turning in an application, will be flagged and your booth will be closed.

Miss Ka'u Coffee Contestants, 2011

Jaeneise P. Cuison, of Nā‘ālehu, is the daughter of Tracyann and Mathias Cuison, Sr. and sister to Jolynn, Mathias, Jr., Mark, Micah, Britney, Ernest, Jernest, and Otto. Jaeneise is a senior at Ka‘ū High School. She has “a passion for volleyball, baking assorted desserts and spending time at the beach with family.” She plans to major in nursing and dreams of becoming a registered nurse because she wants “to be able to help the sick and needy within our community.” She loves “living in Ka‘ū because of its beautiful and serene beaches and its majestic hilltop mountains that continuously sustain us with resources.” Jaeneise’s platform is “community service: giving back to my community by preserving and perpetuating the environment.” Her talent is Tahitian dance.

Brandy Nicole Eder, of Pāhala, is the daughter of Bert and Tina Eder and sister to Nathaniel, Fresno, Angelbert, Michael, Chris and Melinda. Brandy is a Kaʻū High School senior. Brandy likes to play sports, read and cook. She “would love to be a doctor someday.” She says, “What I love the most about Ka‘ū is the aloha spirit; the way everyone is like family.” Her platform is "Domestic Abuse: Helping to identify verbal and physical abuse in teens through volunteer counseling in schools." Her talent will be performing her own original composition on the piano.

Alina Berlina Jerilong, of Ocean View, is the daughter of Youlina Henry and Kosmi Silk and sister to Nerling, Eiko, Lomon and Sesmi. She is a junior at Kaʻū High School. Alina enjoys helping people, playing volleyball and doing her work at school. She says she dreams of being a nurse because she wants to help people in need suffering from sickness and illness. She likes Kaʻū because she says she "loves to see the mountains," and enjoys the people, having a good time and talking to them. She added, "I like to live in the Kaʻū side." Her platform is Inspiring community to build a healthy life style. She says,"I believe it is very important to maintain healthy eating habits, stay physically fit and get enough rest to sustain an individual's needs." Her talent is hula.

Kayla Kimiko Nishimura, of Pāhala, is the daughter of Gail and Ned Nishimura and sister to Marissa and Chad. Kayla is a senior a Ka‘ū High School. She is involved in “club volleyball, is Student Body Government treasurer and captain of the soccer team.” After high school she plans to go to college and major in liberal arts. Kayla enjoys living in Ka‘ū and says, “I love that whenever I’m bored, I can call up my friends to hang at the beach or play volleyball.” Kayla’s platform is “inspiring athletes to succeed and stay healthy.” Kayla's will perform a belly-dance for her talent. 

          

Kathline Diane Pataray, of Nāʻālehu, is the daughter of  Esmenia P. Hernandez and her stepfather is Gerald Hernandez. She is sister to Kathryne and Jessa Mae and is a senior at Kaʻū High School. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, competing on the school tennis team and trying new things. She plans to major in travel and tourism in hopes of becoming a travel agent or ticketing clerk in an airport or travel agency. She loves Kaʻū because "the mountains and beaches bring out the beauty of nature." She added, "The people treat each other like family is why I love living in Kaʻū." Her platform is "Perpetuating the Filipino Heritage: Learning from our elders and encouraging the youth to recognize their dedication and work ethic." Kathline's talent is a traditional Filipino dance.

Brandy Kayumi Haunani Shibuya, of Wai‘ōhinu, is the daughter of Terry-Lee and Dane Shibuya and sister to Kassie, Tiare-Lee, and Dane, Jr. Brandy is 22, an Alaka‘i for a Hawaiian culture leadership program, a Children's Miracle Network sponsor, and a hostess for island TV shows for the Big Island. “It has always been a dream of mine to represent Hawaiʻi and make a difference in the world,” said Brandy. She plans to attend Kapi‘olani Community College and aspires to become an elementary school teacher. She loves Ka‘ū because it “is over 922 square miles of rich sacred land, holding the most powerful Hawaiian history” and because she is “intrigued by its cultural diversity and natural beauty.” Brandy’s platform is “the importance of education in strengthening our children, youth and communities.” Her talent is hula.

Young Miss Ka'u Coffee Contestants, 2011

Dayse Meleani Andrade, of Pāhala, is the daughter of Kasey Polido and Veedal Andrade and sister to Kaselon and Markos Andrade. Dayse is in fifth grade at Pāhala Elementary School and likes to dance, sing and play sports. She wants to become a pediatrician because she loves kids. She says she loves living in Ka‘ū because “all of her family and friends are here, and because the beaches are beautiful.” Her talent is dance.

Alyssa Bivings, of Nā‘ālehu, is the daughter of Emely Salmo and Daniel Bivings and sister to Kobie, Kevin, Amber, Aliyah, Alexus, Angelica, and Ashlyne. Alyssa is in fourth grade at Pāhala Elementary School and likes to sing karaoke, dance and have fun with her friends. She would like to be a veterinarian because she loves animals and wants to help them. She enjoys living in Ka‘ū because she “can meet a lot of people, since the people here are friendly.” She also likes the beautiful beaches. Her talent is dance.

Malia Nicole Corpuz, of Pāhala, is the daughter of Rochelle Abero and Arthur Estranero and sister to Chloe. Malia is in fourth grade at Pāhala Elementary School and likes to practice karate, bike and hang out with her friends. She wants to become a nurse to help sick people, especially young children. She says, “I love to help sick children by giving them medicine.” She says she enjoys living in Ka‘ū because “I love the beaches, and all my family is here, even my friends.”Malia's talent is dancing.

Dacy Davis-Andrade, of Pāhala, is the daughter of Stacy and Daniel Davis and sister to Shacy, Dylan and Easton Davis. Dacy is in fifth grade at Pāhala Elementary School and likes to ride horses, run track and play soccer. She wants to be a veterinarian because she loves animals. She says she loves living in Ka‘ū with camping, riding horses, “hunting with my dad and going fishing with my papa.” Her talent is hip-hop dancing.

Aiyana Galletes-Alapai, of Ocean View, is the daughter of Genevieve Galletes and Joe Alapai and sister to Napualani, Lloyd, Lehua, Sampson, Thor, and Hercules. Aiyana is in sixth grade at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School and is involved with Ocean View Teen club, is a volunteer at Ocean View Community Center and likes to play baseball. She wants to help kids by being a youth counselor, being involved in programs and activities and lots of field trips. She says she loves living in Ka‘ū because she loves “nature: the ocean, the land, the plants, the flowers, and the trees.”Aiyana's talent is acting.

Shailei-Marie Elizabeth Kalikoililani Penera, was born in Gresham, OR, but now lives in Pāhala. She is the daughter of Breeann Ebanez and Charles Penera, and sister to Kaydence. Shailei-Marie is in fifth grade at Pāhala Elementary School and likes to cook, dance and sing. She “would like to be a lawyer, because they make plenty money.” She likes living in Ka‘ū because she loves “going to the beach and most of all the country life.” Her talent is Tahitian dance.