A Celebration In It's 7th Year: 2015 Ho'olaule'a

Hula performances were given by three different halau's at the 2015 Ka'u Coffee Festival Ho'olaule'a. Photos by Jesse Tunison

Saturday's (May 2) Ka'u Coffee Festival 7th Annual Ho'olaule'a at the Pahala Community Center featured a full day of free entertainment, with performers coming from as far away as Japan, Ka'u coffee tastings, prize raffles and crafts and food offered by a range of vendors.

Musician Bolo. Photo by Julia Neal

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. festival attendees were welcome to enjoy hula performances by Halau Hula Kalehuaki'eki'eika'iu, Hannah's Makana 'Ohana Hula Halau, and Halau Hula O Leionalani as they were serenaded by musical artists including Hands Of Time, 2015 Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen Maria Miranda, Keaiwa and Demetrius Oliveira, Bolo, South Side Serenaders, Keoki Kahumoku, Kulele, Kookoo Bird & Friends and Moses, Makana & Bradley.

Vendors from around the island offered information, crafts, games and dinning experiences ranging from plate lunches, poi, sandwiches, snacks, baked goods, shave ice, beverages, Ka'u coffee tastings and products. Keiki enjoyed bouncing castles and slides as well as train rides around the festival grounds.

Annabelle Orcino was the lucky winner of this year's Buy Local, It Matters raffle with a $1,000 check presented by Miss Ka'u Coffee Queen Maria Miranda and Ka'u Coffee Festival organizer Chris Manfredi. The promotion, now in it's third year at the Ka'u Coffee Festival Ho'olaule'a, encourages residents to frequent local businesses during the weeks prior to the festival.

Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

During the Ka'u Coffee Experience, expert baristas prepared and served free samples of Ka'u coffees using a wide variety of techniques. These methods included, Hario Pour-over, Clever, French Press, Chemex and Toddy Cold-brew plus a variety of espresso beverages, such as lattes.

Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

Throughout the day, participants were shuttled from the festival to tour Ka'u Coffee farms and the  Ka'u Coffee Mill, where visitors learned how beans are processed and roasted while enjoying coffee tastings and demonstrations.

For more about our annual events, see our website at kaucoffeefestival.com.