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.
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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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