Ka’u Coffee Festival Features ‘Reverse Trade Mission’

Photo courtesy ka’u coffee festival

Coffee leaders in Ka’u, Hawaii, are prepping for the annual Ka‘u Coffee Festival, May 4-5 at the Pahala Community Center.

This year’s festival will include guest lectures from importer and roaster Simon Hsieh of Soaring Phoenix Trading Company and Jim Munson of Brooklyn Roasting Company. Both men are traveling to Ka’u as part of the festival’s third “Reverse Trade Mission,” in which festival organizers host coffee professionals from the mainland United States and throughout the world.

“We’re pleased and proud that notable industry leaders come to Ka‘u to share in our community,” says Chris Manfredi, festival organizer. “This strategic initiative to create collaborative relationships benefits Ka‘u growers and moves us another step forward on the path toward establishing Ka‘u as a premium coffee growing origin.”

The full festival runs April 26 to May 5 and is open to the public.