Heres The Story Behind Hawaiis Kona Coffee

Hawaii’s world-renowned coffees flourish in the volcanic soil and unique climates found in various locations throughout the islands. Though gourmet luxury coffee is grown on Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Molokaʻi, none is more famous than the variety grown in the districts of Kona on the Big Island.

Introduction of coffee to Hawaii

The first coffee plants were introduced to Kona in 1828 by missionary Samuel Ruggles, with many plantations popping up in the area shortly after. Hawaii’s coffee industry experienced highs and lows over the years due to the Great Depression, WWII, insect infestations, and the 1899 world coffee market crash, which influenced price and production. But coffee always took a backseat to the state’s booming sugar industry. That is until recently when there was a drastic decline and the last sugar plantation closed its doors in 2016 making way for a new era in Hawaiian coffee production.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that Kona coffee turned into a household name and was deemed a specialty coffee of Hawaii. The sudden surge in aficionados of this specific variety saw an increase in farms throughout the Big Island in areas such as Kaʻū, Puna, and Hamakua, all of which have exceptional beans as well.

The high elevation, rainfall, moderate temperatures, sunshine, and rich volcanic soil in areas such as the slopes of Hualālai produce unrivaled conditions to grow coffee. Only farms within the districts of North or South Kona can be labeled as true Kona coffee. This unique environment creates a distinct aroma and flavor that differentiates this bean and justifies its high price point. Today, the area is full of small family-run farms that are just three to five acres each. Each area—and sometimes even each farm—sits in its own microclimate, making for subtle differences that can be tasted in each brew.

How Kona coffee is experienced in Hawaii today

Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. that grows coffee commercially and is thought to be the best-suited location in the nation for this task. Hawaiian Kona coffee is often listed as one of the top seven most expensive coffees in the world.

Visit Kona during the 10-day Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, coinciding with the harvest, which aims to preserve, perpetuate, and promote the region’s coffee heritage. Visitors learn about history and production, alongside local food, art, crafts, music, hula, and farm tours. The festival also plays host to the annual Kona Coffee Cupping Competition judged by internationally-recognized coffee connoisseurs and names one young woman Miss Kona Coffee.

If you’re not visiting the Big Island during the festival, you can still tour many of the world class farms year round. On these tours visitors view the coffee trees nestled high up on the mountainside overlooking the ocean. Coffee tasting and the delicate processes of growing, drying, and roasting the beans will also be explained. The best part is that many of the tours are free.

Bonus: Pro tip

It’s always best to visit and buy directly from small family-owned farms. Since the coffee comes from one small district and is quite expensive, many producers create Kona coffee blends. Though tempting, these blends are just cheap foreign beans with only 10 per cent Kona coffee added in. Steer clear of them and only buy 100 per cent Kona.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.