The Kona Brewers Festival turns 21 on March 12th, raising funds through the celebration of handcrafted beers and local cuisine in a sustainable community gathering at the King Kamehameha's Courtyard Kona Beach Hotel luau grounds in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
The festival indulges craft beer aficionados with 72 selections of ales and lagers served up with a wide variety of island-style cuisine from 36 Hawaii chefs. Breweries from Hawaii and the mainland US will each offer two types of craft brews, offering something for beer adventurers and connoisseurs alike. Top Chefs from some of the Big Island’s favorite restaurants will offer their best food pairings, ranging from fresh fish and smoked meats to deep fried avocados and tropical sweets, served up fresh on a banana leaf plate against a backdrop of passing paddleboards and canoes at the historic Kamakahonu Bay Beach.
Live music and entertainment include the must-see Trash Fashion Show, a performance that highlights creative fashions made entirely from recycled material. Festival volunteers divert over 90% of festival waste from landfill by transforming refuse into compost for local school gardens. The Kona Brewers Festival has raised awareness, visibility, and $850,000 for over 40 non-profit and community organizations supporting the wellbeing of Hawaii’s youth, environmental conservation, and cultural traditions.
Run for the Hops 5K / 10K
The day of beer tasting takes off with a running start at the “Run for the Hops” 5K / 10K run/ walk on Saturday, March 12, at 7:30 a.m. Presented by Bike Works and benefiting Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii (PATH), the run begins and ends at BMW of Hawaii. Entry fee is $30 and includes a commemorative T-shirt, refreshments, award ceremony and beer tasting following the race.
Kona Brewers Festival Homebrew Competition
Festival events include the Kona Brewers Festival Homebrew Competition, a local competition sanctioned by the American Homebrewers Association. Judges evaluate entries using the AHA National Style Guidelines for 28 different styles of beers, meads and ciders. Links to information and entry forms will become available at the festival website.
For information on any of the festival events, visit www.KonaBrewersFestival.com
