Ka‘ū Coffee Festival — 14 – 20 June
Sip, savor and enjoy the unique coffee and regional flavor of the island’s southern district at the 17th Ka‘ū Coffee Festival. The annual event celebrates Ka‘ū’s award-winning brew with a lineup of festive and tasty activities honoring the people, places and traditions that have shaped Ka‘ū’s remarkable coffee story. This year’s festivities highlight the deep connection between mālama ʻāina and the resilience of Ka‘ū’s farming families who reinvented themselves to build a new agricultural industry from the ground up. Some activities are free, while others have a fee. Note: the festival schedule is subject to change; visit www.kaucoffeefestival.com for the latest information.
Kamehameha Day Celebration in North Kohala – 11 June
All of Hawaiʻi celebrates the legacy of King Kamehameha in June. However, the community of North Kohala, where Kamehameha was born, celebrates the King on the holiday – 11 June – which is also a state holiday. The original statue of King Kamehameha I, which was once thought lost at the bottom of the sea, has stood proudly in North Kohala since 1912. This year, statue decoration ceremonies will begin at 5:30 a.m. with protocol, Royal Procession, hālau hula performances and receiving the 20 ft. lei, culminating with the King's statue in Kapaʻau being draped with lei at 9 a.m. From 9-10 a.m., the colorful floral parade will take place, featuring traditional Hawaiian pāʻū riders and honorees. Hoʻolauleʻa festivities will also be held in Kapaʻau's King Kamehameha Park, featuring live Hawaiian music. Follow the Kohala Kamehameha Day Facebook Page for updated information. For those who love parades and pāʻū riders, a Kamehameha Day parade will also be held in Kailua-Kona on Saturday, 6 June, 9 a.m.
