The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is the reason to book that vacation if you’ve ever wanted to drink freshly brewed coffee while standing on lava-rock terraces and listening to trade winds whisper over coffee trees. The festival runs from November 7 to 16, 2025, and is a ten-day celebration of all that makes Kona coffee famous around the world: the people, the farms, the flavors, and the deep cultural roots of coffee growing on HawaiŹ»i’s west coast.
This festival has something for everyone, whether you’re a coffee geek, a casual drinker, or just a visitor looking for a unique Big Island cultural experience. There are tastings, farm tours, cuppings, recipe contests, art walks, and events for the whole family. Here’s how to get the most out of the 54th annual festival and why you should put Kona coffee at the top of your trip list.
What to expect: the best parts of the festival that you won’t want to miss
There are dozens of events at the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, which takes place in Kona and adjacent towns. These range from small farm tours to big public hoāolauleāa (celebration) gatherings. These are must-haves:
Farm tours (experiences from seed to cup): A few farms let you on guided tours that show you every step of making coffee, from the nursery to picking, to the wet mill, to the dry mill, to roasting, and finally to tasting. For example, during the festival, Greenwell Farms offers a popular Seed-to-Cup farm tour.
Demonstrations of living history and farming: Families and history buffs will adore the Kona Coffee Living History Farm, which offers a rare glimpse into how people lived and worked on farms in the past.
Competitions and workshops for cupping: Go to a professional cupping to discover how roasters and buyers judge fragrance, body, acidity, and finish. It’s like a crash course in how to taste coffee like an expert. You can also improve your home-brewing abilities in public tasting classes at the event, such as “Do You Know How to Brew That Perfect Cup?”
Holualoa Coffee & Art Stroll and craft fairs: Visit the galleries in old Holualoa, try some local coffee, and buy handmade gifts at the Hoāolauleāa and artisan market events.
Community events: The program includes community events like parade nights, recipe contests (the KTA Super Stores Kona Coffee Recipe Contest is a fan favorite), and a Grand Finale party. All of these events are family-friendly and full of local aloha.
Most events at the festival require a small festival button, which costs $10 and gets you into many activities throughout the ten days. It also helps support the group that puts on the festival. Kids under five usually don’t have to pay.
What farms and roasters are taking part?
The Kona coffee community is known for being small and close-knit, and many family-run farms and bigger estates take part in the festival’s events. Greenwell Farms, Island Sun Coffee, the Kona Coffee Living History Farm (Uchida/Smith family site), and UCC Hawaii are some of the regular participants. There are also a number of smaller independent farms that give tours and tastings. Each farm has its own style, from small boutique micro-lots to big seed-to-cup operations. Plan your trip around the kind of experiences you like best.
Tip: You might need to make a reservation ahead of time or only be able to go on certain days for smaller family farms. Check the festival magazine and the farm’s own website early to see if there are any open spots at the farm you want to visit.
What to look for when tasting Kona Coffee
Tasting Kona coffee is both a scientific and a pleasurable experience. You will learn to recognize at cuppings and tastings:
Aroma: Kona coffee often has flowery and nutty aromas in the front.
Acidity: Expect fresh, delightful acidity that is vibrant but not sour.
Body and finish: Kona coffee usually has a medium body, a clean, silky finish, and a light sweetness.
Flavor nuances: Depending on the height, soil, and processing, you might taste chocolate, citrus, stone fruit, or caramel aromas.
During a professional cupping, you’ll be shown how to slurp, which helps the coffee get more oxygen and travel across your tongue so you can taste the different flavors. The festival’s workshops are a great way to learn this process and find out which roast and brew procedures you like most.
What makes Kona coffee special and different from other coffees
There are several things that make Kona coffee unique:
Terroir and single origin: Kona coffee grows in a small area on the slopes of HualÄlai and Mauna Loa. The volcanic soils, high altitude, continuous rain, and steady trade winds make a distinct microclimate. This terroir gives the coffee its own unique taste.
Arabica types and small lots: Most Kona is 100% Arabica (usually Typica and related varieties) and is grown on tiny plots of land, which makes it possible to carefully plant and harvest the coffee.
Small-batch processing: Many Kona growers handpick ripe cherries and process them in small batches to preserve unique flavors.
Price and authenticity: Real 100% Kona coffee is hard to come by; thus, it costs more than blends of other beans. Be careful of mixes that say “Kona blend” because these are usually only part Kona mixed with other beans. The festival is a terrific chance to get real micro-lot roasts and talk to the folks who farmed them.
Kona coffee has benefits besides its outstanding taste
Kona coffee tastes great, and like other high-quality Arabica coffees, drinking it in moderation can be good for your health. People typically say that caffeine helps them stay awake and focused, and that it has a lot of antioxidants. Also, buying directly from Kona farmers helps small local businesses and keeps money moving around in island communities. This is a nice bonus for every bag you bring home.
Making plans for your trip, like where to stay and how to get around
If you’re going to the festival, staying near the Kohala Coast or in Kona will make it easy to get to most events by car. Make your reservations early, as activities on festival weekends and popular farm excursions can fill up quickly.
Driving between farm tours and Holualoa is part of the enjoyment, but keep in mind that the event hours may overlap. Make sure to leave some time in your plan for leisurely tastings and surprising discoveries. A lot of activities are good for families and strollers, although some farm trips have rough ground, so wear comfortable shoes.
Last sip: Here’s why you should add the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival to your Big Island must-do list.
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is more than just a coffee trade fair. It’s a cultural festival that connects visitors to local history, family farms, and the area’s unique flavors. You may taste coffee right from the source, learn why terroir is important, and take home micro-lot roasts that you won’t find anywhere else. The festival provides a warm welcome to the island for both serious coffee lovers and curious travelers. It also gives you a better understanding of the small-lot craft that goes into making each cup of 100% Kona.
Are you ready to organize your trip? Look at the entire festival schedule and download the festival magazine for information on events, tickets, and farm tour sign-ups. After that, let Kohala Coast Properties help you discover the right place to stay on the Big Island while you drink coffee.
Aloha! We’ll meet you with a cup in hand!