Kona Coffee Festival

Coffee cupping competition

Here in Kona coffee country, the annual Kona Coffee Festival has been in full swing all week, featuring events, workshops, tours, competitions, and even a parade, to celebrate all things coffee. And at today's prestigious cupping competition, our own Brazen Hazen coffee was among the select finalists for the coveted award and industry recognition.

For 41 consecutive years, the Kona Coffee Festival has honored the cultural heritage and history of America's finest coffee. Thousands of residents, visitors, media and international coffee aficionados converge on Kailua-Kona to support the accomplishments of our local coffee industry. In Holualoa, the annual Village Coffee & Art Stroll is always one of the most popular events of the 10-day festival. Guests of Holualoa Inn got a front-row seat to the action, experiencing our town's close-knit ohana of artists, merchants and coffee farmers.  The street was overflowing with visitors who came to explore art galleries, sample some great local food and sip on 100-percent Kona coffee. More than two dozen estate Kona coffee farms provided endless samples of their best brew.

National Barista champion, Pete Licata, mentors a student.

Meanwhile, down the hill in Keauhou, 2011 National Barista Champion, Pete Licata, has been on hand to help aspiring competitors learn the fine points of making latte, espresso and more. In addition to his impressive first-place win in the nationals, he was also the runner-up at this year's World Barista Championships in Bogota, Colombia. His win and place showings were achieved using Kona coffee grown right here in Holualoa!!

Holualoa Inn's coffee was on display.

Holualoa Inn occupies a 30-acre coffee estate located in the heart of the Big Island's famous Kona coffee-growing region. We serve our own Holualoa Inn 100-percent Kona coffee at the Inn, and guests can tour our coffee farm, orchards, gardens and historic trails.

Innkeeper Holualoa Inn