KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii – The 19th Kona Brewers Festival hit Kona on Saturday. The annual fundraising event was held on the beach and luau grounds at King Kamehameha’s Courtyard Kona Beach Hotel, and light rain could not dampen the spirits of the thousands who attended.

Every year the festival taps up libations from 40 of the country’s best breweries and serves them alongside a host of island cuisine from 40 Hawaii chefs. Its also a zero-waste event, which means organizers do as much as they can to reduce the amount of trash that is produced during the festival. The art of recycling is even celebrated with an annual trash fashion show; a crowd favorite.

Beer lovers gather in Kona for the annual brewers fest, video courtesy Kona Brewers Festival

Kate Jacobson, Mattson Davis, and Cameron Healy shared their views in the video above, the footage for which was issued by event organizers in a news release. The Kona Brewers Festival main event is the culmination of a multi-day celebration that includes a pairing dinner and benefit art auction, a Suds and Sea cruise, and the Run for Hops race.

The Kona Brewers Festival is a community fundraising event made possible by the Bill Healy Foundation that promotes the craft brewery revolution in Hawaii and encourages professional collaboration between brewers and chefs. The event raises funds for environmental, educational and cultural organizations and has raised more than $650,000 in the past 18 years.Kona Brewers Festival media release

LINK: Kona Brewers Festival