CoffeeBiz
Hawaiian Coffee
Nutrient & Mineral-Rich Volcanic Soil Makes It Special
About CoffeeBiz
Discover the Beauty of Hawaiian Coffee Farms
Delve into the world of Kona coffee, one of the rarest and most exquisite coffees globally.
Hawaiian coffee, particularly Kona coffee, is one of the world’s rarest and most expensive coffees. Dive deep into the picturesque landscapes of Kona and explore the rows of coffee plants stretching towards the horizon.
It is typically marketed under its geographic name (Kona, Ka’u, Puna, Hamakua, Maui, Kauai, or Molokai). The first four are locations around the island of Hawaii.
Kona Coffee Essence
Most Hawaiian coffee is Typica, a subvariety of Coffee arabica versus C. canephora (commonly known as C. robusta). There are other, much less common, coffee species but they are not important in Hawaii. Several other C. arabica subvarieties and hybrids are grown in Hawaii and are typically sold as limited editions (Catuai, Red Caturra, Yellow Caturra, Mokka, Mundo Nova, Pacamura, Maragogyoe, Yellow Bourbon, Red Bourbon). Wikipedia has an extensive list of coffee varieties as does the live eat learn website. Please note that the identification, naming, and source information on coffee varieties is often not without controversy.
The Hands Behind Every Cup
Hawaiian coffee comprises only 0.14% of the worldwide value for coffee, $59 million/yr and $35 billion/yr, respectively (see USDA Coffee Statistics and FAO Statistics for more detail). Approximately 1,100 Hawaii farms cultivated 7,100 acres of coffee with over 600 of these farms in Kona. Almost all (97%) of these farms were very small, less than 5 acres. The larger farms (only 3%) had over 92% of total acreage in coffee. Coffee is, at best, a source of supplemental income for small farms.
Reasons to Farm Coffee in Hawaii
Table 1: Reasons to Farm Coffee in Hawaii | ||||
Reason to Farm Coffee | Farm Type | |||
Inherited Lands | Real Estate Investment | Lifestyle Farms | Leased Lands | |
A place to live in paradise | ✓ | sometimes | ✓ | sometimes |
Keep land in the family | ✓ | sometimes | ||
Hold land for long-term investment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Minimize taxes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Income generation | ✓ | sometimes | sometimes | ✓ |
Why Hawaii?
The Land of Paradise
Only income generation and tax minimization are directly related to short-term operational profitability from coffee. Valuing the intangibles of “living in paradise” and “keeping land in the family” further complicates financial analyses. For persons considering coffee farming in Hawaii, an interactive financial analysis tool is included in the Economics section of this website to examine operational profitability.
Coffee farming in Hawaii is adapting to new challenges brought by the coffee berry borer (CBB) and coffee leaf rust (CLR), leading to exciting opportunities for innovation and collaboration. While managing these pests may be more demanding for small farms, there is potential for growth through the adoption of phytosanitary methods. This transition opens doors for partnerships between small farms and larger operations, where economies of scale and best management practices can be shared. Additionally, as the farming landscape evolves, there may be opportunities for new entrants, including those who appreciate the unique environment of Hawaiian coffee farms, to contribute to maintaining and enhancing production. This collaboration could ensure both the preservation of local farming traditions and the ongoing production of high-quality Hawaiian coffee.
Other sources of information on coffee farming in Hawaii can be found at:
- USDA Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center (the sponsor of this web portal)
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA)
- College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Kona Coffee Farmers Association
- Hawaii Coffee Association
Our economic analysis tool will assist Coffee growers and other stakeholders to make informed decisions. Following our study and research, we will keep some default (typical) values in our program in case a user is not able to provide any specific values. User will be able to download this report, print this report, or share with others.