Hawaiian Coffee
Includes Local & Family Favorites
Hawaii has earned a reputation for producing some of the finest coffee grown in the world today. Wherever coffee buffs gather a mere mention of Kona coffee causes smiles to break out all around. That kind of reaction only comes when a product has unmatched appeal. Island visitors can discover the Hawaiian coffee trail and the experience that awaits those who follow it. The journey begins in the Kona District of the Big Island where prized Kona coffee is grown. There in a narrow band above the village of Kailua-Kona coffee aficionados will find the home of Kona coffee. Tours and tasting rooms are available daily.
Visitors to Kauai and Molokai will find coffee being grown on a plantation scale. Unlike their counterparts on the Big Island these operations involve hundreds of acres and thousands of trees. This is industrialized coffee production where machines have largely replaced manpower. Purists might argue that the end result isn't quite the same, but do yourself a favor and stop to compare. You just might find that Hawaiian coffee is still Hawaiian coffee no matter how it is grown, and that the price advantage of large scale agriculture is hard to fight.
Another place where large scale coffee production can be found is Oahu. When you take the cross-island highway to Haleiwa note the rows of coffee trees along the road just after you crest the ridge and see the ocean. This on-again, off-again operation sits on former Dole pineapple land, and at this date is being rejuvenated. You can check on its status by stopping at the Dole Plantation attraction up the road toward Honolulu.
Coffee lovers bent on staying on Maui can experience island coffee during their stay as well. Although coffee production isn't a big item in the Maui economy, small growers have had trees in the low spots on Mt Haleakala for generations. Take a drive up to Grandma's Coffee in Keokea and see what they've been keeping to themselves! We make a special trip, so go figure.
And while you're at it click on the Shop button and have one of the Hawaii Restaurant Guides sent your way. After a morning of coffee tourism it'll be time to slow down and relax over a good meal. We cover all tastes and budgets so regardless of what the mood calls for you're sure to find something to please.
www.hawaiirestaurantguide.com
last updated on: 3/23/2010
