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Celebrating Coffees

Coffee, keiki and good causes brought the crowds up to Kualapu`u this weekend as Coffees of Hawaii celebrated 20 years of harvests in the area and 200 years of coffee in Hawai`i.

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A parade in Kualapu`u was one of the many events during the Coffees of Hawaii celebration last weekend.

“She was pretty much abandoned when I came here ten years ago,” Coffees of Hawaii owner Mike Atherton said about the plantation, adding he was proud that he was able to keep the company harvesting coffee through the years.

March 16 was declared Coffees of Hawaii Day at the opening ceremonies Friday. The event led into an afternoon parade and evening festivities, including Project Runway: Plantation Style, where teams competed at the Kualapu`u Center to create the best fashion piece out of burlap and plastic paper without sewing.

Coffee was a key ingredient in the chili cook-off between police, firefighters and TSA agents. The police rose victorious with their spicy recipe that Atherton dubbed excellent. He said he was also impressed with the MoBetta band’s performance Friday night.

Pony rides, a petting zoo, live entertainment, food, a craft fair and games for the kids made for a memorable country fair Saturday as organizations raised money and families came out for a good time. Lunch plates sold out quickly, a sign of the good turnout, and a crowd gathered under the entertainment tent to watch Desiree Cabalar be crowned Miss Molokai Island Princess.

Heart of Aloha Church offered their field on Kalae Highway for the fair. Church pastor Cameron Hiro said partnerships like these are important to his church, which values community involvement.

“It’s always nice to see the town together,” he said as he looked over the crowd that was enjoying the day of activities. “It’s the spirit of community.”

He added that this is the most people he has ever seen in the area at one time.

Event organizer Maria Holmes was pleased to see how many people showed up and how easily organizations sold food as fundraisers.

Saturday evening kept people well-fed too as the festivities moved back onto the Coffees of Hawaii espresso bar area for Molokai Arts Center’s Soup R Bowl and the veterans’ center plate lunch sale. The Air Force band provided entertainment as residents and visitors crowded into the well-decorated lot and lanai to enjoy food and music.

Coffees of Hawaii partnered with businesses, organizations and the county to make the event possible. The two-day festival also included craft workshops and tours of the plantation.

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One Response to “Celebrating Coffees”

  1. lwj001 says:

    Kona Coffee (Larry W. Jones 06/19/2003) (song#1634)

    I’m fillin’ up the pot right here at the sink
    Before I stroll out the door, I think of you some more
    I’m workin’ nine to five and it’s drivin’ me to drink
    Kona coffee, just like love, an island brew
    Seems I never see a weekend, and not a sight of you

    I keep talkin’ to the walls from one til five
    And there’s only one thing that’s keepin’ me alive
    Kona coffee, just like love, an island brew
    Kona coffee, overflowin’ dreams of love that I once knew
    Monday mornin’ I’ll be drinkin’ Kona coffee missin’ you

    An island girl is born for island love
    And this island man’s forlorn here by the sea
    I hate to stay at home when there are stars above
    And sit here all alone just drinkin’ Kona coffee

    The moon is out there shinin’ while I’m in here pinin’
    Before the night is done, before the mornin’ sun
    I’ll be feelin’ as old as these grounds of
    Kona coffee, just like love, an island brew
    Kona coffee, cold as the love that I once knew
    Monday mornin’ I’ll be drinkin’ Kona coffee missin’ you

    One More Cup Of Kona Coffee (Larry W. Jones 08/07/2004) (song#3325)

    One more cup of Kona coffee
    Filled up with regret
    One more night of memories
    Just trying to forget
    Remembering how empty arms
    Once held you so tight
    One more cup of Kona coffee
    One more lonely island night

    Listen to love songs at the luau
    Every one a sad sad island song
    Drinkin’ Kona coffee and just thinkin’
    About a dream that went all wrong
    And when you used to say Aloha
    I thought our future looked so bright
    One more cup of Kona coffee
    One more lonely island night

    Here on this island in the sea
    You strolled far away from me
    Now ain’t it plain for you to see
    You are the cause of my misery

    Someone else now holds you
    Some other island guy
    Someone else’s arms enfold you
    While I sit here and cry
    Sweetheart, please return to me
    You know it’s only right
    One more cup of Kona coffee
    One more lonely island night

    Sweetheart, please return to me
    You know it’s only right
    One more cup of Kona coffee
    One more lonely island night

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