Lavalicious – A Chocolate Salute to the 100th Birthday of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Friday & Saturday, May 13 & 14:
Big Island Chocolate Festival: Lavalicious – A Chocolate Salute to the 100th Birthday of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. The Festival includes a cacao plantation tour at Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory on Friday, 11 a.m. to noon; a college culinary competition and several public foodie and agriculture-themed seminars. Activities culminate with an indoor/outdoor festival gala on Saturday at the Hapuna Beach Hotel. Enjoy music, dancing, and a silent auction. Event times, venues and costs vary. For information and to purchase tickets, call (808) 324-6100 or visit www.bigislandchocolatefestival.com.
Ka`u Coffee Festival
May 13 – 22:
Ka`u Coffee Festival. The festival kicks off with the Pa’ina Open House at Pahala Plantation House and continues with a recipe contest, pageant, the new Lobsterpalooza, Ka`u Mountain Water Systems Hike in Wood Valley, Coffee & Cattle Day at Aikane Plantation, and Ka`u Star Gazing. Fun culminates with the all-day Ho’olaulea May 21, and Coffee College May 22, at Pahala Community Center, 96-1149 Kamani St., Pahala. The Ho`olaulea offers Hawaiian entertainment; craft, coffee and food booths; Ka`u Coffee Experience with guided coffee tastings and farm tours. Some events are free, others have a fee. For information and venues call (808) 929-9550 or visit www.kaucoffeefest.com.