Brewery Profile

Kona Brewers Festival

For visitors exploring Kailua-Kona’s beer scene, this is not a conventional brewery stop with a regular taproom; it is an annual gathering built around craft beer, food, culture, and community. Since 1996, the Kona Brewers Festival has brought together beers from across Hawaii and beyond on the sands of Kailua-Kona. A visitor entering the festival should expect a social, outdoor tasting environment rather than a quiet bar counter. The emphasis is on sampling, talking with others, eating food prepared by island chefs, and taking in a setting that ties the event closely to place. Its reputation rests as much on its ‘ohana spirit and Big Island giving as on the beer itself.

Travelers coming to this part of Hawaii often look for experiences that connect local flavor with the landscape and community, and the festival fits that pattern. The beer selection is described broadly as craft beer from the islands and elsewhere, so it can serve as a snapshot of multiple brewing perspectives rather than a showcase for one producer. Food is also central, with locally sourced cuisine from island chefs helping make the event more than a series of pours. For visitors who want a regional beer experience without focusing only on one tap list, the appeal is the chance to see how beer, local cooking, sustainability, and Hawaiian culture are presented together in one annual event.

Because this is a festival, practical planning matters more than it would for a casual walk-in brewery visit. Current dates, participating breweries, chef lineup, admission details, and site rules should be confirmed through the official event information before making plans, since those details are not listed here. The same goes for transportation, parking, accessibility, and any limits on what visitors may bring onto the sand. The event’s stated focus includes sustainability and giving back to the Big Island, so visitors should expect that guidelines may reflect those priorities. If your goal is simply to taste what is pouring that day, the festival’s current program is the place to confirm the beer list.

The Kona Brewers Festival is more than just a tasting event; it's a heartfelt celebration of Hawaiian culture and community, held annually on the stunning sands of Kailua-Kona. Since 1996, this unique gathering blends craft beers from across the islands and beyond with locally sourced cuisine from island chefs, all while championing sustainability and giving back to the Big Island. It's renowned for its 'ohana spirit, feeling less like a fundraiser and more like a vibrant, tropical family reunion.

Website available

74-5617 Pawai Pl, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740

Phone: 808-895-5823

Website: http://konabrewersfestival.com/

Hours: Held each year on the second Saturday of March (March 14, 2026)