More than 2,500 coffee lovers converged on upcountry Holualoa Village Saturday for the 18th annual Coffee &Art Stroll from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. Thirty-four local coffee farmers offered up free samples of their best brews from booths along the half-mile stretch of Mamalahoa Highway that winds through the historic coffee town.
More than 2,500 coffee lovers converged on upcountry Holualoa Village Saturday for the 18th annual Coffee &Art Stroll from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. Thirty-four local coffee farmers offered up free samples of their best brews from booths along the half-mile stretch of Mamalahoa Highway that winds through the historic coffee town.
There were 651 attendees who voted for their People’s Choice favorites and top honors went to Mr. Bean Kona Coffee, with Holualoa Organics taking second place, followed by Greenwell Farms, Oka Farms, Waiaha River Coffee, Three Keiki Farms, Kona Coffee &Tea Company, Keopu Coffee Company and Buddha’s Cup Kona Coffee rounding out the top 10.
The Kona Coffee Farmer’s Association, co-producers of the event, also hosted three celebrity chefs who tasted samples from 35 farms to determine their Chef’s Choice Five Star 100% Kona Coffee Awards. Morgan Starr from Mi’s Bistro, Joe Forester from Nanea golf club restaurant and Justin Peters of Holuakoa Cafe chose Hala Tree Coffee as their favorite followed by Fire Island coffee, Mr. Bean Kona Coffee, Blue Corner Coffee and Keopu Kona coffee as their top five choices.
The stroll kicked off the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival that continues through Sunday throughout West Hawaii.
A video of the Coffee &Art Stroll and link to the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival are available at websiteholualoahawaii.com.