The Fourth annual Kauai Chocolate & Coffee Festival is exactly how it is billed: a celebration of all things chocolate and coffee, with lots of sampling, educational displays and workshops, entertainment and exhibitor booths featuring chocolate and coffee products from around the state.
The festival kicked off with a Wednesday night VIP event, continues tonight and then picks up again on Saturday morning, highlighting all the attributes of these two favorite local crops.
The festival takes place in Hanapepe and includes a silent auction, keiki activities, samplings and much more.
It is presented by the County of Kauai, Hanapepe Economic Alliance, Friends and Family of Agriculture, The Garden Island, Special Events Hawaii and the Hawaii Chocolate & Cacao Association and sponsored in part by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
The mission of the Kauai Chocolate & Coffee Festival is to:
• Offer an event that entertains both visitors and residents of Kauai;
• Highlight Hawaii agricultural industries of both cacao and coffee;
• Showcase fine products and talents of local farmers, chefs, roasters, chocolatiers, baristas and manufacturers while bringing prosperity to Hanapepe.
The festival will feature chocolate and coffee from Kauai and around the Hawaiian Islands.
Those holding event passports are guaranteed samples from certain vendors, as well as logo goodie bags.
One vendor will be unveiling their sauce at the festival.
Red Beard’s Pepper Sauce was established in 2017 by Bobby Skelton and Paulina Michel. Their love of hot sauce starts with the peppers, which they grow organically on Kauai.
From plant to bottle, their goal is to make the finest quality pepper sauce from the hottest peppers.
Currently they have three year-round sauces: Col. Mustard, Reapercussions and Papa Yeahs.
They are introducing a new fall flavor, Holy Mole, a delicate blend of local cocoa, orange, honey, Carolina Reapers, Bhut Jolokia, Trinidad Scorpions and 7 Pot Peppers.
The festival is 5 to 9 tonight and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. It takes place on Hanapepe Road.
Tickets are available in advance online for $15 or for $20 at the door and, while supplies last, at Aloha Spice Company, Banana Patch Studio, Japanese Grandma’s Cafe, and Angela Headley Island Art for $20.
For more information and tickets visit www.KauaiChocolateandCoffeeFestival.com
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All who purchase passports at the festival are guaranteed samples and logo tote bags from the following:
Shops on Hanapepe Road
Aloha Spice Company
Banana Patch Studio
Blu-Umi and Japanese Grandma’s Cafe
Ku‘ulei’s Gourmet — Friday only
Little Fish Coffee — Saturday only
Angela Headley Island Art
Under the big tent in Hanapepe Park
Free tote bags
Aloha Chocolate Company
Aloha Spice Company
Hawaii Chocolate & Cacao Association
Kauaii Coffee Company — Friday only
Kauai Kookie
Koloa Rum Fudge Sauce
Kona Coffee Leaf Tea
Lydgate Farms
Manoa Chocolate Hawaii
Madre Chocolate
Ono Pops Hawaiian Gourmet Frozen Pops
Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory
Waialua Estate Chocolate
