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Kona Hawaii

Kona, Hawaii - this town is also named Kailua Kona- is situated on the West shore of the Big Island. Kona resort features fine hotels, night clubs and excellent dining. Kona is also famous for the golf courses and marlin fishing.

Kailua Kona Coffee

The most remarkable thing about this region is that Kona Hawaii grows one of the rarest and best tasting gourmet coffees in the world. "I think Kona Coffee has a richer flavor than any other, be it grown where it may and call it by what name you please" - these were the words that Mark Twain said about Kona coffee.

Coffee plants were first brought to Kona Hawaii in 1828. These plantings were Coffee arabica originating in Ethiopia; the Arabs brewed coffee a thousand years ago and consumption of the beverage spread due to its ability to boost ones energy as well as the unique flavor of the bean.

The microclimate on the slopes of Hualalai mountain, Kona, Hawaii, is perfect for coffee growing. While sugar cane replaced the coffee crop on the other islands, Kailua Kona and Hamakua on the Big Island remained home for small coffee farms.

A rise in world market prices in the 1890s prompted investing in coffee plantations. The coffee boom in Kona Hawaii began and attracted Japanese and Philipines. Initially working in the sugar plantations where conditions were harsh, these people left for Kona. The community protected those who escaped the contracts, even assisting with changing their names to avoid punishment from the authorities. These Kona pioneers then lived self-sufficiently and the whole family took part in the production of coffee.

As times went by, coffee production grew and many coffee farmers gained independence by building of their own mills and becoming independent landowners. But after the World War II farmers could not survive on coffee production alone and began other plantings including macadamia nuts, avocados, and bananas.

In the 1950s farmers were again faced with a coffee crisis. They felt they had to unify to have control of their crop, its processing, marketing and distribution. In the 1960s, two coffee cooperatives were established (merging into one in 1993).

Times changes, and Kona coffee industry experiences its ups and downs. The only thing remains permanent: Kailua Kona coffee is still one of the best in the world.