Coffee lovers visiting the Big Island in November should definitely check out the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival!
Starting November 4th, you will be able to experience and celebrate this year’s coffee harvest as farmers and artisans come together at this award-winning coffee festival famous worldwide. With 40 events across 10 days, you will be able to find a variety of activities for the entire family: from art exhibits and quilt shows to coffee tastings and workshops.
Known across the world as one the best gourmet coffees, the Kona Coffee bean “cherry” is cultivated on the slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualalai. There are over 500 farms located in the Kona Coffee Belt, where the ideal climate zone found at elevations from 800 to 2,500 feet produce the highest quality coffee beans.
For more than 200 years, five generations of farmers have carefully cultivated, harvested and hand-picked the Kona cherry to produce the most exquisite coffee. With a combination of a strong and delightfully mellow, balanced flavor, it’s a cup of coffee you don’t want to miss!
Species of coffee arabica, 100% Kona Coffee.
Experience first-hand and learn how Kona coffee is grown and processed. During the week of November 7th, there are two Coffee Farms and Mill Tours from 9:00am-2:00pm, scheduled for Tuesday November 8th and Friday November 11th. For more details click here.
On November 11th, make sure to witness one of the most magical moments of the festival. Starting at 6:00pm, hundreds of people walk together through the Historic Kailua Village for the Lantern Parade – a parade full of beautiful lights, vibrant colors and island rhythms. Followed by a night of dance and music at Hale Halawai.
For information on this and other events happening on the Big Island this month, check out our list of annual festivals and events
One of the best parts of visiting a tropical island is dining with an ocean view! The Kohala Coast has plenty of great restaurants where you can share a romantic dinner with while watching the sun set over the waves or enjoy a delicious lunch without leaving the beach! In the winter, you might even see whales off in the distance while eating lunch.
Here are a few of our favorite places for beachside dining on the Kohala Coast:
Napua Restaurant at the Mauna Lani Beach Club
Napua Restaurant has a beautiful location overlooking the beach and stunning Makaiwa Bay. This is a great place to go for sunset cocktails, lunch at the beach, or a romantic dinner.
Try Napua restaurant for a beachside dining experience in a beautiful cove with delicious, locally-sourced foods. The lunch menu features refreshing salads, sandwiches, and burgers. The restaurant has a more upscale dinner menu has mouthwatering BBQ ribs, island-raised steak and fresh-caught seafood. At lunch, the dress is more casual with all of the beach-goers, but dinner time is dressier.
We love to come here for lunch when we need to refuel after playing and snorkeling at the Mauna Lani Beach Club! If you are a guest at one of our homes, bring your beach club pass to park here.
Want to know more about Napua Restaurant? Check out these links: Website | Menu
Lava Lava Beach Club in Waikoloa Resort
At the Lava Lava Beach Club you can actually dine right on the beach, steps away from the water in Anaeho’omalu Bay. True to their slogan of “get your toes in the sand”, many of their tables are in the sand surrounded by torches and coconut trees. The menu features fun pupus (appetizers) and mains, with delicious meat, seafood, and veggie options.
This is a wonderful place for a romantic sunset dinner, often with live music and a chance to dance on the beach. It’s also a great place for lunch with a view or evening cocktails with friends!
Check out their website for up-to-date menus, hours, and contact information.
The Hau Tree & The Manta Pavilion at Mauna Kea Resort
The Hau Tree is a great location for a romantic sunset dinner or lunch on a beach day. The views of Kauna’oa Bay are stunning at this restaurant, located on our favorite white sand beach. During the day, we love to order refreshing smoothies from the Hau Tree to enjoy while we relax on the beach. Their lunch menu features delicious hamburgers, wraps and sandwiches in a more casual beach gazebo atmosphere. If you want to enjoy a beachside sunset dinner here, you will need to make a reservation.
Also at Mauna Kea Resort, you can get a fantastic breakfast at the Manta Pavilion‘s buffet. In the evening, they feature a delightful upscale dinner menu and an award-winning wine list. We love the atmosphere of this open air restaurant overlooking the beach, both in the morning and at sunset.
Check out the Mauna Kea Resort’s website for up-to-date menus, hours, and reservations.
Brown’s Beach House & Hale Kai at the Fairmont Orchid
Dine on this beautiful patio overlooking the stunning blue water at the Fairmont Orchid’s beach! This four diamond restaurant is a great option for upscale beachside dining – perfect for celebrating special occasions. At night, you can watch the sunset or have a candlelit dinner by the ocean. The menu has a wide variety of delicious options drawing from western and eastern cuisines. Vegetarians also have a good selection between items on the main menu and a separate vegan dinner menu.
Brown’s Beach House is located at the Fairmont Orchid, just a mile up the road from our Mauna Lani vacation homes. Brown’s Beach House is only open for dinner, but Hale Kai next door is open for lunch and dinner. Hale Kai a great option for a more casual beachside dining experience!
Check out the Fairmont’s website for up-to-date menus, hours, and contact information.
