The Hawaii Coffee Association (HCA) was formed in 1995. We bring together all facets of the Hawaii Coffee Industry - Growers, Processors, Roasters, Wholesalers, and Retailers.
Our purpose is to educate, increase awareness, promote research, and promote consumption of Hawaiian coffees.
Over the years, the HCA has provided a common forum to encourage participation and promote development in all areas of the coffee industry and actively work to promote positive coffee legislation.
Hawaii is very diverse in its growing regions but extremely high quality coffee can be found throughout the state.
The HCA brings the coffee industry together on an annual basis by way of their Annual Conference & Trade Show. The show is usually held in July at different locations throughout the state.
The 2009 edition featured the First Annual Hawaii Statewide Coffee Cupping Competition. Coffees from each of the eight state certified coffee growing districts were represented. KAUAI - OAHU - MOLOKAI - MAUI - KONA - KA'U - HAMAKUA & HAWAII. Four different districts were represented in the top 15 ranked coffees.
The Hawaii Coffee Association is always working to maintain and develop the highest standards for coffee in Hawaii. They were the driving force behind the Hawaii State Truth in Labeling Bill of 2003. This bill was a major step to allow consumers to clearly distinguish a 100% Hawaiian Coffee from a blend using both Hawaiian and foreign coffee.
The HCA has strongly supported Mandatory Certification. All green coffee grown in Hawaii and being transferred from its area of origin must be certified by the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture.
Coffee must meet minimum quality standards to carry the name of its origin district. It must also be certified for grade after which it receives the state certification seal. The HCA emphasizes maintaining the highest standards for Hawaiian grown coffee.
WE AT THE HAWAII COFFEE ASSOCIATION ARE PROUD TO BRING TO THE WORLD... THE BEST COFFEE EVER!!!
|
|
Coffee Trees arrived in Hawaii in the early 1800’s. The British warship H.M.S. Blonde brought coffee trees, to Hawaii, from Brazil in 1825. Chief Boki, Governor of Oahu, had acquired coffee trees in Rio de Janeiro, on his way back from London.
The coffee was planted in Manoa Valley on Oahu, and from a small field, trees were introduced to other areas of Oahu and neighbor islands. Reverend Samuel Ruggles moved trees to Captain Cook, Kona in 1828. Hanalei Valley on the North Shore of Kauai was home to the first coffee plantation. Coffee was established in the valley in 1842, but was wiped out in 1858 by coffee blight, a scale insect.
In the late 1800s efforts to establish coffee plantations were defeated by economics. Small farms averaging less than 5-acres in size replaced the Kona coffee plantations.
By the 1930s there were more than 1,000 farms and as late as the 1950’s there where 6,000 acres of coffee in Kona. At the turn of the last century there was coffee on all the major Hawaii islands, and now 100 years later, there is once again coffee on all the major islands. There are 6,500 acres in coffee statewide and annual production is 6 to 7 million pounds green bean.
Hawaii has it all from seed to cup, from small family farms to large mechanized estates, and from hand pickers to accomplished baristas. Hawaii is a very good place to see coffee operations. Coffee is harvested annually, some places start as early as July and finish as late as January, but the bulk of Hawaii’s harvest takes place September through December.
There are many opportunities to see coffee orchard, processing and milling operations. Visitors are welcome to tour plantations and learn how coffee is grown and prepared, from seed to cup.
Hawaii is also a great place to drink coffee and to purchase coffee. Each island has several interesting places to try coffee, from cozy little coffee shops to educational coffee visitor centers. Hawaii has great roasters with access to the freshest best beans. One of life’s great pleasures is sipping a fresh roasted, new crop, Hawaii, arabica as the sun bursts from, or sinks into the tropical Pacific.
Hawaii is beautiful. It attracts, houses, feeds and entertains millions of visitors per year. This beauty and Hawaii Aloha help make Hawaii a great place to check out coffee even if you or your traveling companion(s) have a life beyond coffee.
All the islands have something to offer besides coffee. They all have the ocean, tennis and great golf. The Big Island has its volcanoes, Maui has the road to Hana, Molokai home of breathtaking cliffs and majestic Halawa valley, Oahu has Waikiki, and Kauai has the Waimea Canyon.
Hawaii is the only state within the USA producing coffee, and we are proud of the 100% Hawaiian grown, arabica coffees from each of five major islands.
|
|
|
