Registration is now open for the 19th annual Kona Brewers Festival for both breweries and restaurants wishing to participate. The event will indulge craft beer aficionados and foodies alike on Hawaii’s Big Island Saturday, March 8, from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. and will be held rain or shine on the beach and luau grounds at King Kamehameha's Courtyard Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona. A total of 40 of the country’s best breweries and 40 Hawaii restaurants will serve 2,000 people at the yearly festival and fundraiser.

Kona Brewers Festival is presented by Alaska Airlines, First Hawaiian Bank and Keauhou Veterinary Hospital, and began 18 years ago as an anniversary celebration for Kona Brewing Company.

Brewers:

The festival staff hopes to assemble a wide variety of brews and breweries. The window for brewery registration is December 17 through January 17, with acceptance confirmed by January 22. Brewers donate two half-barrel kegs and there is no fee to participate in the festival. Mainland brewers will send kegs to Widmer Brothers Brewing Company in Portland no later than February 7 for complimentary freight to Hawaii. Details are listed on the Kona Brewers Festival website.

Restaurants:

Similarly, the open window for registration is December 17 through January 17 for Hawaii restaurants as well. The event showcases the best island cuisine and restaurants come with 500 portions to serve. With a festival goal set at “zero waste”, the festival will provide compostable serving supplies if needed, and one restaurant will be recognized with the 'Aina Akamai Award as the most Environmentally Friendly Tasting Station. Restaurant registration and more details are available at the site.