The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Lantern Parade returns to Kailua Village starting at 6 p.m. Friday. ADVERTISING The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Lantern Parade returns to Kailua Village starting at 6 p.m. Friday. With its glowing procession of light, music
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Lantern Parade returns to Kailua Village starting at 6 p.m. Friday.
With its glowing procession of light, music and color, the Kona Coffee Lantern Parade winds through historic Kailua Village and culminates with an evening of song and dance at Hale Halawai County Pavilion.
Colorful ethnic costumes, chochin lanterns, music and dance create a festive family atmosphere. Chochin lanterns, from the important Japanese tradition of obon, signal the time for family gathering and honoring of ancestors. Kona coffee community members, civic and ethnic groups and special guests from Kona Kohala Chamber of Commerce sister chamber Hatsukaichi Chamber from Hiroshima, Japan, will participate in Friday’s parade.
After the parade at 7 p.m., the Hawaii County Band will perform its free November Harvest Concert at Hale Halawai.
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Lantern Parade is made possible through the generous support of Alaska Airlines and the many volunteers who worked hard to gather participants, organizations and community participation.
The award-winning Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is recognized as the oldest and one of the most successful food festivals in Hawaii. The 2016 festival includes 10 days of events that promote Hawaii’s unique culture and diversity and supports the festival’s mission to preserve, perpetuate and promote Kona’s unique coffee heritage.
For a complete listing of 46th annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival events or for more information, visit www.konacoffeefest.com. Follow the festival on social media @konacoffeefest.
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Remaining schedule
The 46th annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival continues through Sunday. Other festival finale events include:
Cupping Competition, Finals
When: 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Keauhou Shopping Center, Center Court
Side-by-side tastings of the finalists continue, narrowing down the favorites. Winners announced later in the evening at the Kona Coffee Council Dinner and Benefit Auction.
Hoolaulea
When: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Makaeo County Pavilion
Ethnic food booths, arts and crafts, lei contest, ikebana and all-day live entertainment featuring Robi Kahakalau, one of Hawaii’s most popular entertainers.
Aloha Makahiki Concert
When: 2:30-5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Makaeo County Pavilion
Makahiki blessing in an ancient hula style by kumu hula Mika Keale-Goto with Halau Keale from Kona and Japan. Award-winning Hawaiian traditional slack key music and hula.
Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Fundraising Bowling Party
When: 5-8 p.m. Sunday
Where: KBXtreme
A great evening for family fun, team building or a friends night out. Three hours of unlimited cosmic bowling, no bowling experience necessary and lots of prize giveaways.
