Coffee in Hawaii

January 1, 2009-January 1, 2009
Location: Science & Technology Department

Coffee has been grown in Hawaii since 1825 when coffee plants were brought here from Brazil on the H.M.S. Blonde. Originally, coffee was grown on Oahu in Manoa Valley, possibly on or near UH Manoa campus. The first commercial coffee plantation was started in Koloa, Kauai in 1836. It was soon being grown on Maui and Hawaii as well. Today, coffee is grown commercially on all the major Hawaiian Islands. In 2008, there were 6,300 acres of coffee in Hawaii with a value of $29,200,000. While the Kona area of Big Island has long had a reputation for excellent coffee, coffees from Kauai and Maui were also in the top 10 in the 2009 Statewide Cupping Competition.