Ka'u Coffee Festival Ho'olaule'a

Photos by Andrew Hara

The Ka'u Coffee Festival Ho'olaule'a drew more than a thousand people to the grounds of the Pahala Community Center on Saturday, May 4, 2013, in celebration of 17 years of Ka'u coffee becoming a new industry for the district, with small businesses and small farms creating a worldwide reputation.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie declared the week of the festival Ka'u Coffee Week.

A cultural exchange based around the festival was further forged between the small community of Lana`i and halau members in Pahala and from Japan.

Lori Lei Shirakawa’s hula studio presented dancers from tiny keiki to kupuna, accompanied by Gene Akamu, Lori Lei and friends. Cyril Pahinui, D, Gene and Curtis, and Debbie Ryder were among the performers along with Keoki Kahumoku and his 'ukulele kids.

Gwen Edwards, Triple C Recipe Contest Winner

The many labels of Ka'u coffee were shared with visitors and local residents who also visited farms and the Ka'u Coffee Mill and tasted coffees brewed using various methods at the Ka'u Coffee Experience.

Craft, food and entertainment vendors added to the collection of community members present at the festival.

Jeanette Howard was awarded a $1,000 check for winning the Buy Local, It Matters raffle.

Mahalo for your support. Check back soon for next year's dates!

Ka'u Star Gazing from Makanau

Photos by Andrew Hara

On Friday, May 3, 2013, we offered a unique opportunity for the public to not only visit Makanau, a Hawaiian historic sacred site and lookout place, but to taste a selection of wine and beer as they star gazed.

'Imiloa astronomer Shawn Laatsch gave a lecture on stars from Makanau as the sun set. While the clouds, which brought much needed rain to the coffee farms, prevented many stars from being seen that night, the astronomer used the sky as a backdrop for teaching the group about Ka'u’s night skies.

Before dark, the group was able to see the view from Makanau over ranch lands and onto a long stretch of undeveloped coastline.

The name of the tabletop mountain, Makanau, incorporates the Hawaiian word for eyes, “maka.”

Participants paid $35 per person in advance and received Ka'u Coffee, wine, beer and snacks.

This event might be held again next year so check back later for a date!

Ka'u Mountain Water Hike To Become A Regular Ka'u Coffee Mill Event

Photos by Andrew Richard Hara

The Ka'u Mountain Water Systems Hike on Wednesday led walkers from 25 to 75 years of age onto old plantation trails, into the rainforest above Wood Valley Road and to old tunnels and water systems once used to carry sugar cane to the Pahala sugar mill.

The event, one of many during the ten days of the Ka'u Coffee Festival sold out, and we hope to offer it on a more regular basis to our visitors.

During the trek, Olson Trust land manager John Cross explained plans to use the plantation water sources for a new hydroelectric plant that will run Ka'u Coffee Mill and other farm enterprises as well as provide irrigation water for crops like taro and watercress.

Shalan Crysdale, Hawai'i Island Director for The Nature Conservancy, talked about the rainforest and the preservation of the watershed and endangered species, as well as a partnership with the Edmund C. Olson Trust II to eradicate invasive species such as kahili ginger from the native forest.

Tonight's event is Ka'u Star Gazing on Makanau Mountain at 5:30 p.m., meeting at the Edmund C. Olson Trust II building on the corner of Maile St. and Pikake St. in Pahala. The $35 per person event is sold out and includes a talk from an 'Imiloa astronomer, as well as Ka'u Coffee and snacks.

For more photos from the event, click here.

Triple C Recipe Contest 2nd Annual Results

Photos by Andrew Richard Hara

Coca Mocha Roca

Our 2nd Annual Triple C Recipe Contest, which also celebrated the Visitor Center's first year open, brought many contestants and onlookers to the mill. Contestants used Ka'u Coffee to make cookies, candies and crackers. Our Grand Prize winner, Gwen Edwards, took home $500 for her Coca Mocha Roca, plus $150 for winning the Amateur Candy category.

Mocha Biscotti Frosted w/Chocolate

The event was held April 28 at Ka'u Coffee Mill with five judges, the third event in ten days of the Ka'u Coffee Festival. Judges for the recipe contest were Miss Ka'u Coffee Tiare-Lee Shibuya, Chef Brad Hirata, Na'alehu Market and Wiki Wiki Mart owner Carl Okuyama, Ka'u Coffee Mill Chief Roaster Kalikoweo Keolanui-Daniele and Lou Daniele, also of Ka'u Coffee Mill.

Ka'u Coffee Honu Crunch

In the Amateur Candy category, where Edwards also took first, she was followed by second-place winner Rosaria Chelsea-Lynn taking home $100 for her Ka'u Coffee Honu Crunch, and Nadine Ebert taking home $50 for her Chocolate Frosted Coffee Candy.

Ka'u Coffee Cookie Delights

In the Amateur Cookie category, Masako Sakata took first and $150 for her Ka'u Coffee Cookie Delights, second place and $100 went to Angelica Kawewehi for her Ka'u Coffee Doodles and third place and $50 went to Nadine Ebert for her Mocha Biscotti Frosted with Chocolate.

Ka'u Bull Quakers

In the Amateur Cracker category, Lisa Dacalio took first and $100 with her Ka'u Bull Quakers. Masako Sakata took second and $100 with her Ka'u Coffee Icing on Crackers. Mrs. Sakata donated both of her awards to next years Miss Ka'u Coffee Pageant as a $250 scholarship.

Ka'u Coffee Brownies

In the Professional Cookie category, Aikane Plantation Coffee and Kapolei High Schools Culinary Program took home $150 and first place for Ka'u Coffee Brownies. Trini Marques took home second and $100 for Ka'u Coffee Chocolate Dipped Pleasures.

Ka'u Coffee Melts

In the Professional Cracker category, Trini Marques took first and earned $150 for her Ka'u Coffee Melts.

Coffee Chocolate Bites

In the Student Cookie category, Sarah Beth Passarelli took first with Coffee Chocolate Bites, earning her $150. Second and $100 went to Lorilee Lokenani Lorenzo with her Coffee Macnut Pie Crust Bars, and third and $50 went to Ka'u Middle School Uplink After-School All-Stars with their Uplink All-Star Cookies.

Coffee Macnut Candy

In the Student Candy category, Lorilee Lokenani Lorenzo took first and $100 with her Coffee Macnut Candy.

For more photos from the event, click here.

Miss Ka'u Coffee 2013

Miss Ka'u Coffee 2013 Tiare-Lee Shibuya.
Photos by Geneveve Fyvie

Ka'u Coffee Mill
Founder Edmund C.
Olson Crowns
Tiare-Lee Shibuya.

Tiare-Lee Shibuya, daughter of police officer Dane and Terry-Lee Shibuya, of Wai'ohinu, became Miss Ka'u Coffee Friday night, April 26, during the pageant that kicked off ten days of Ka'u Coffee Festival events. Tiare-Lee is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, attends Hawai'i Community College and plans to be a nurse. Her talent was hula. She won a $1,000 scholarship presented by the Edmund C. Olson Trust II.

First Princess
Seneca Lee Oleyte.

First Princess is Seneca Lee Oleyte, of Pahala. She is 22 and the daughter of Ernest and Lenora Lorenzo-Oleyte. She attends University of Hawai'i in Hilo and studies communications. She is a graduate of Ka'u High School. Her talent was singing. She won a $500 scholarship presented by Ka'u Coffee Festival chair Chis Manfredi.

Award-winning Ka'u
coffee grower Lorie
Obra crowns
Second Princess
Rachel Ornelas.

Second Princess is Rachel Ornelas, of Wai'ohinu. She is the daughter of Mia Ornelas and resides with her grandparents, Mario and Memmy Ornelas. She is 19, graduated from Ka'u High School and attends University of Hawai'i at Hilo, studying to be a nurse. Her talent was singing. She won a $400 scholarship presented on behalf of Sen. Russell Ruderman donating $250 and Rep. Richard Onishi donating $150.

Third Princess
Kawailani Houvener.

Third Princess is Kawailani Houvener, of Ocean View. She is 17 and the daughter of Michelle and Kenneth Houvener. She is a senior at Ka'u High School and plans to sign up for the Army and study mechanics. Her talent was hula. She won a $300 scholarship with Punalu'u Bake Shop donating $250 and Miss Bobby Tucker donating $50.

Former Miss Peaberry
Rebecca Lynn
Kailiawa-Escobar.

The reigning Miss Peaberry, Rebecca Lynn Kailiawa-Escobar, wowed the crowd with a dance, a speech and gown presentation. The reigning Miss Ka'u Coffee performed a beautiful hula dance and welcomed her sister as her successor.

The Talent and Gown categories were won by Shibuya. Ornelas took home the Education scholarship, and Houvener took home the Miss Photogenic prize.

Ka'u Coffee Mill Founder Edmund C.
Olson with Former Miss Ka'u Coffee
Brandy Shibuya.

Emcees Bobby and Phoebe Gomes entertained, with Phoebe singing and playing 'ukulele. Before announcing the judges’ decisions, Bobby said about the candidates, “They are all winners.”

The queen and her court will attend many festival events through May 5. Upcoming events include Ka'u Star Gazing tonight at Makanau, and the day-long ho'olaule'a at Pahala Community Center on Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

For more photos of the pageant, click here.