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| Rushing streams and flooding may be on the menu for this week, according to multiple advisories from agricultural agencies, Civil Defense and National Weather Service. See more below. Photo by Julia Neal |
THE LIVE KAʻŪ COFFEE FESTIVAL is coming back. It's been virtual only, since the pandemic began but Kaʻū Coffee Growers Cooperative has named the dates June 1-8 and its chair Gloria Camba. Kaʻū Coffee Growers are building a week-long schedule of activities leading up to the full day Ho‘olaule‘a on the grounds of Pāhala Community Center. The Festival was first launched in 2009. Here are the committee leaders who welcome more volunteers to work on the festival:
FESTIVAL CHAIR: Gloria Camba is an award-winning R&G Farms Kaʻū Coffee grower and long time President of Kaʻū Coffee Growers Cooperative. She played an instrumental role in Kaʻū Coffee growers becoming owners of their lands, working with state Department of Agriculture and other federal and state agencies. Camba served as Cooperative Treasurer from 2003 -2011 and became President in 2011. She was pageant Chair for Miss Kaʻū Coffee from 2011-2015, providing many scholarships for young Kaʻū women.
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| A classic poster design by Tanya Ibarra for the 2013 Kaʻū Coffee Festival. |
SECRETARY: Miles Mayne owns Silver Cloud Coffee Farm in Wood Valley. With a background in business, he volunteered to bring programs to Kaʻū Coffee Growers Cooperative and to help farmers secure the purchase of their coffee lands and to expand their markets. Maine comes from a tradition of family coffee farming in India and returned to his love of agriculture and rural economic development when he moved to Kaʻū. He is retired from an International Oil Service Company where he worked as an economist in business evaluation, on projects in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and North America.
TREASURER: Ray Kudo returned to his roots in Kaʻū when he became a Kaʻū Coffee grower at his Cloud Rest Farm. His parents Kazuo and Tori Kudo arrived in Pāhala in 1930 as contracted sugarcane workers from Japan and settled in Higashi camp in Moa‘ula. Kudo began his long career in ABC Stores, initially as a stock clerk and progressed to Night Manager, Assistant Manager, Store Manager, Area Supervisor and finally retired as District manager in charge of sales, profits, operations and merchandizing for Kona and Kaua‘i.
LOGISTICS & VENDOR CHAIR: Brenda Iokepa Moses volunteered in this capacity since the first Kaʻū Coffee Festival. She worked with coffee farmers in land management roles with the Kaʻū Sugar Company and succeeding owners and helped mentor coffee growers toward purchasing their farms. Iokepa Moses is the former USDA Hawai‘i & Western Pacific Rural Development Director. She is current Deputy Director of County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management and President of Hawai‘i Association of Conservation Districts. She helps cover Kaʻū cultural events with photography for local news outlets.
ENTERTAINMENT CHAIR: Debbie Ryder is Kumu for Hālau Hula ‘O Leionālani, numbering more than 60, taking students to Neighbor Islands and international destinations. She has served as a Hawaiian cultural mentor at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and produced student performances focused on Hawaiian culture. She and Kawehi Ryder created and steward Ke Ola Pu‘uhonua in Nāʻālehu with performances, native gardens and classes in cultural practices for visitors and locals. They produce Ho'okupu Hula No Kaʻū festival with hula and ethnic dancers from mainland, Hawai‘i, Mexico and Japan.
MARKETING & MEDIA CHAIR: Alla Kostenko is a manager of Kaʻū Coffee farms and Secretary of Hawai‘i Coffee Association, the state-wide organization that represents coffee growers, processors, retailers, and service providers with a shared interest in Hawaiian coffee. She has served as Event Coordinator for HCA's state convention since 2019 and its participation in Specialty Coffee Association Expo in 2022 and 2023. She was Assistant Organizer for virtual 2020 and 2021 Kaʻū Coffee Festivals. She worked on the production of a film about the history of Kaʻū Coffee.
SPECIAL EVENTS CHAIR: Lou Daniele is General Manager of Kaʻū Coffee Mill & Visitor Center. Since 2013, he has led his team to represent Ka‘ū Coffee at Specialty Coffee Association Expos, North America's largest coffee trade shows. Organizes events for Kaʻū Coffee Festival, including Kaʻū Coffee Recipe Contest, farm and nature tours and stargazing. Danielle is a board member of Hawai‘i Coffee Association and Windward Planning Commissioner for County of Hawai‘i. His background includes nursery managing, landscaping, diversion of green waste from landfill to rich soil production, marketing and advertising.
PUBLIC RELATIONS CHAIR: Julia Neal has published The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper for more than 20 years. It covers community transition from sugar to coffee, marketing and growers' campaign to purchase of their Kaʻū Coffee farms. Neal has promoted Kaʻū Coffee at U.S. Specialty Coffee Association confabs and secured Kaʻū as the official coffee of the U.S. Presidential Inaugural Ball. She helped to bring the Kaʻū Coffee story to cover of Japan Air magazine and in National Geographic Traveler. She volunteered at Kaʻū Coffee Festivals to coordinate entertainment and raise scholarship money. She hosts the Kaʻū Coffee Festival kickoff at Pāhala Plantation Manage’s House.
INTERNATIONAL MARKETING CO-CHAIRS: Kayo Yamazaki Munnerlyn and Eva Liu. Kayo Yamazaki Munnerlyn lives in Pāhala and performs with the Pāhala Hongwanji Taiko organization, which also hosts music, dance and other cultural groups from Japan. Before and after moving to Kaʻū she worked with the Japanese company, The Contact Inc., promoting Japanese visitors to international destinations. Clients included Jamaica, Orlando, New York and European destinations. Eva Liu and her company are owners of the Sea Mountain Punalu‘u lands and 1,200 acres of farm and pasture in Kaʻū. She is working on carefully focused segments of the Chinese market to attract ecologically and agriculturally interested visitors to come in small groups to learn and to volunteer. She recently hosted a group of travel entities from China, led by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.
KAʻŪ COFFEE GROWERS COOPERATIVE LISTS EVENTS FOR 2024 KA'U COFFEE FESTIVAL Here is the working schedule of events for the 2024 Ka'ū Coffee Festival June 1-8 These are events already committed by their organizers:
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| A classic opening of Kaʻū Coffee Festival's week of events, years before the pandemic with Hālau Hula O Leionalani dancers. |
Ka'ū Coffee Recipe Contest: Saturday, June 1. Those with a passion for cooking and coffee can bring their your entries to the no-entry-fee recipe competition at 11 a.m. at Ka'ū Coffee Mill. Show off culinary skills using Ka'ū Coffee as an ingredient. Enter in one of the three categories: pupu (appetizer), entrée, or dessert, and compete for cash prizes in the adult or student division. All entries will be judged by a panel of experts; winners will be announced at the end of the event. All attendees will enjoy free coffee tastings and entertainment. Entry deadline is May 27, 2024. Register at www.kaucoffeemill.com or contact (808) 928-0550.
Pā'ina & Launch Party at historic Pāhala Plantation Managers House: Saturday, June 1. Learn the history of the plantation and the rise of Ka'ū Coffee. Enjoy the charm of the historic home with music, hula, food and tours. Mingle with local coffee growers and their families. Co-hosted by Ka'ū Coffee Growers Cooperative, Ka'ū Multicultural Society, Pāhala Plantation Cottages and The Ka'ū Calendar newspaper. The event is from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Tour Ka'ū Coffee Farms: Wednesday, June 5. Take a self-guided tour of the Ka'ū Coffee farms and see how the world-class coffee is grown, harvested and processed. Meet the farmers and learn about their stories, challenges and successes. Sample and purchase coffee products, as well as other local delicacies. A list of participating coffee farms will be made available in the festival brochure and at kaucoffeefestival.com.
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| Ka'u Coffee Mountain Hike. Photo by Jesse Tunison |
Ka'ū Mountain Hike & Lunch: Thursday, June 6. Join Ka'ū Mountain Hike & Lunch in the Wood Valley rainforest, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hike along the historic flume systems of the sugar cane era and learn about the development of hydroelectric power in Ka'ū by the Ka'ū Coffee industry. Enjoy stunning views of mountains, the valley, waterways and native plants and animals. The hike will be followed by a delicious lunch prepared with local ingredients. Limited to 30 participants; costs $60 per person, which includes lunch. Reserve at www.kaucoffeemill.com or contact (808) 928-0550.
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| A hayride during Coffee & Cattle Day at Aikane Plantation Coffee Co. |
Stargazing Night: Friday, June 7. If fascinated by the stars, don't miss Stargazing Night on the hills around Ka'ū Coffee Mill, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Observe the heavens from one of the best locations on the island, with the help of professional astronomers and telescopes. Learn the importance of stars in Hawaiian culture, and how navigation by stars led to the first landings of Polynesians in Hawai'i right here in Ka'ū. The event costs $60 per person and includes a barbecue dinner. Parking is available at Ka'ū Coffee Mill for boarding a shuttle to the viewing site. Reservations are required at www.kaucoffeemill.com or contact (808) 928-0550.
Ka'ū Coffee Festival Ho'olaule'a: Saturday, June 8. The grand finale of the Ka'ū Coffee Festival is the Ho'olaule'a, a full day of fun and celebration, coffee tasting and interaction with Ka'ū Coffee farmers on the spacious grounds of Pāhala Community Center. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy live music, hula, local food and crafts, keiki activities, educational displays, guided coffee tastings and farm and mill tours. It's a great place to talk story with Ka'ū Coffee growers and learn more about their passion and dedication. Within Pāhala Community Center, The Ka'ū Coffee Experience will offer Ka'ū Coffees prepared with a variety of brewing methods by professional baristas from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Taste the difference and discover your favorite Ka'ū Coffee.
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| More than 4,500 attended the ninth annual Ka`u Coffee Festival, according to organizers Photo by Jesse Tunison/Ka`u Coffee Fest |
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COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE ISSUED A MESSAGE TUESDAY regarding possible flooding Wednesday through Thursday afternoon. It said:
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for all districts of Hawai'i Island from Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon.
A Flood Watch means conditions are favorable for flooding. Flooding may not occur, but is possible. The National Weather Service may also issue Flood Warnings and Advisories for specific districts on Hawaii Island while the Flood Watch is in effect.
Residents in flood prone areas should be prepared for heavy rains and potential flooding.
Be aware that road closures may occur without notice.
Do not attempt to cross flowing water in a vehicle or on foot; turn around don't drown.
Remember, if lightning threatens your area, the safest place to be is indoors.
You will be informed as conditions change. For more information, visit the County of Hawai'i Hazard Impact Map at https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/5865229bcba74020992b372ef18b6f17
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| 7,500 printed, 5,000 in the mail |
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| Directed by Kaʻū's own Farley Sangels and four other musicians from Kaʻū. |
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