The Sun Sets on the 21st Kona Brewers Festival!
The annual Pau Hana Celebration, held Saturday, celebrated recipients and the $115,000 in funds raised by the 21st Kona Brewers Festival. Over the 21 years, $965,000 has been gifted to local organizations serving youth, the environment and cultural programs.
While festival goers leave the grounds beaming from the amazing beer, food, fun and fashion, coming together to celebrate craft beer is just the beginning of the feel-good festival. “You know that’s just the very tip of the iceberg, there is so much that goes on, so many layers to this brew fest that have an impact.” Said Cameron Healy, founder of Kona Brewing Company, “It’s so affirming to how positive and great a community there is here, and all the volunteers, all the participants, all the attendees, the sponsors, the zero waste value of this event, the trash fashion and the example and message trash fashion gives. Every year, people take away bits of inspiration. It’s hard to describe the essence of it, but everybody has a positive impact, and of course, it creates funding.”
This special event on the shores of Kailua Bay includes a top 5 national homebrew competition, environmental education booths, a 5K/10K run, music, hula, a trash fashion show, and the signature beer and food tasting event that features 40 Hawaii Island chefs and 40 microbreweries from around the U.S. The organizers of the Kona Brewers Festival make every effort to create an event which is ecologically responsible, economically sustainable, encourages the well-being of the community, and is infused with the spirit of aloha ‘aina.
Save The Date for the 22nd Annual Kona Brewers Festival, March 11, 2017. Tickets go on sale December 17, 2016 at 11am HST.
2016 Beneficiaries
APAC (Aloha Performing Arts Center)
Deep and Beyond
Donkey Mill Art Center
Edible World Institute
WHEA (Explorations Foundation)
Family Support Hawaii
Friends of NELHA
Hawai’i Montessori School
HELP (Healthy Eating Learning Pono)
Honaunau Elementary School
InnovationsPCS Foundation
Kahilu Theatre
Kealakehe Project Grad
Ke Kai Ola
Kona Pacific PCS
Lava Roots Performing Arts
PATH (People’s Advocacy for Trails Hawaii)
SKEA (South Kona for Arts Education)
ACF Chefs Kona Kohala
Ahuena Heiau
Kai E’Hitu Canoe Club
Kai Opua Canoe Club
Keauhou Canoe Club
Kona Athletic Club
Na Iwi Ola Foundation
Photo by Mason Lake Photography