Size and location

The Kona Coffee and Tea Company grows coffee in two locations: the Waiono farm is 254 acres, with more than 122 acres of planted coffee. It is planned to have 200 acres of planted coffee.

Malia Ohana is 13.5 acres large with approximately 8.5 acres of planted coffee. Located in Keahou Mauka, Malia is part of the Bishop Estate. It is a leasehold contract which means that at the end of the lease her property may be extended, sold, or confiscated. Malia Ohana has a fantastic, problem-free relationship with Bishop Estate. We speculate many more years together.

Organic

Malia Ohana is a fully sustainable farm in the process of becoming certified organic. The Waiono farm is not certified organic, but makes a strong conscious effort to use organic material whenever possible.

Bean type and irrigation system

The Kona Coffee and Tea Company plants Arabica coffee plants.

The natural rainfall system is used for irrigation. At an ideal high elevation (2,500 and 2,000 feet), the farm receives adequate water supply due to tropical rainfall and morning moisture (nights are cool enough to form dew).

Workers

Depending on the season, there are eight to 21 harvesters. Many are Thai immigrants; KCTC is proud to partner with these hard workers. On an average day, a harvester will gather 200-400 pounds of handpicked cherry. The amount harvested, however, is dependent on the picker, the farm (walking distance between trees) and the season. The farm workers harvest, prune, fertilize and care for the coffee plantations.

Seeds to Seedlings

Quality coffee beans, coffee tree seeds, are hand-picked and planted in tree bags. After 8-12 months, the 1½ feet tall seedlings have established a healthy root system and are ready to be planted in the ground.

Plant maturity and seasonality

Approximately two years after planting, the coffee trees bear their first fruit, which is harvested. Every four years the trees are heavily pruned so they re-grow as if they were just planted. This method enables coffee trees to fruit for years –coffee trees have no life expectancy and can live more than 100 years. Coffee’s seasonality is as follows:

Flowering      February – March             Known as “Kona Snow”

Harvesting     late August – late April     Occurs about 8 months after flowering

Pruning         no later than March         Keeps plants on a cycle helpful for laborers

Harvesting coffee

Unlike many large coffee producers worldwide, we only harvest the ripest red cherries. All coffee is picked by hand to prevent bad and unripe cherries from being processed. The result is that exceptional Kona Coffee taste.