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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, October 14, 2007

Let's go: Hawaii and The World

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

JEANNETTE VIDGEN | Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Advertiser library photo￿

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Marty Robbins

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NOV. 2-11

JAVA JIVE IN KONA

The Kona coffee industry celebrates itself next month in the state's oldest and most multifaceted product festival Nov. 2-11 all along the Kona coast. Key events of the 37th annual festival include the cooking competition, a lantern parade and cultural program, daily farm and mill tours, roasting and cupping contests for those in the business, exhibits, tastings, art show, scholarship pageant, craft fair and farmers market, concerts, even a bowling tournament — nearly 50 events. A new feature this year is a workshop for baristas on Nov. 8.
Information: www.konacoffeefest.com; 808-326-7820.

APRIL 2008

PARTY FOR PORK

They call it "The Perpetual Pandemonious Party of Pork," and it really ought to be held in Hawai'i. It's the annual Spamarama festival held each April in Austin, Texas, which places its respected reputation as an alternative music mecca in peril to host the event. First hosted as a spoof of chili contests by the comedy band Uranium Savages, the event has grown into an important fundraiser for the disabled). It's a day of hilarity, featuring Spamalympics (Spam disc shoot, Spam can relay, Spam-calling contest and the championship Spamburger eating competition), children's activities and the centerpiece Spam recipe contest, with its worst-dish category (Spam Daiquiri and chocolatecovered Spam truffles).
Information: www.spamarama.org; 512-834-1827.

APRIL 2008

STORY OF HIS LIFE

Islanders don't get much opportunity to hear country music; the radio stations seem to come and go, and few live shows make it across the Pacific. All the more reason to make vacation plans to visit Nashville, Music City U.S.A., where country, blues, gospel and other American roots music are everyday fare. The Country Music Hall of Fame, home to both permanent and rotating exhibits, is a good first stop. Right now, they're showing an exhibit on the great Marty Robbins (who, by the way, recorded such Island songs as "Aloha 'Oe" and "Beyond the Reef" and a 1963 album called "Hawai'i's Calling Me"), on view through June 2008. Robbins ("The Story of My Life," "Billy the Kid," "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife") was a multitalented phenomenon who wrote songs and raced stock cars in addition to placing hits on the country charts every year from 1952 to 1983. The Hall of Fame is open 9 a.m.5 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays in January and February, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.
Information: www.countrymusichalloffame.com.