“Brew Your Best Cup”- Coffee Brewing Workshop
Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee Farm • Farm • Holualoa, Island of Hawaii • Hawaii
Historic & Boutique Farms
Where tradition meets innovation in Kona's coffee country
Written by a Local Coffee Expert
Kalani MillerBest for a Glimpse into History
To truly appreciate Kona coffee, you need to understand its past. This farm offers an unmatched journey back in time.
Kona Coffee Living History Farm
This isn't just another coffee farm. It's a time capsule. As the only living history coffee farm in the United States, this site is run by the non-profit Kona Historical Society. It carefully preserves the story of Kona's coffee pioneers from the early 20th century. The farm centers around the original 1920s Uchida family farmhouse. It gives you a real sense of what life was like for Japanese immigrant families who built this industry.
The experience is a self-guided tour through historic grounds. You're free to wander among coffee trees, visit the original farmhouse, and see traditional tools. Like the kuriba (hand-cranked coffee mill) and hoshidana (drying platform with rolling roof to protect beans from rain). What makes it truly special are costumed interpreters who bring the farm to life. You might see someone cooking rice on a wood stove, making musubi for lunch, or working in the garden. You can also meet the farm's resident "Kona Nightingales." These are donkeys that were once essential for hauling coffee down steep slopes.
Why Kalani Loves It:
"This isn't just a coffee tour. It's a profound cultural immersion. It gives you such deep respect for the resilience and ingenuity of families who built this life from scratch. To understand Kona's soul, you have to visit this farm. It connects you to the story in a way no other place can."
The Details:
- Address: 82-6199 Mamalahoa Highway, Captain Cook, HI 96704
- Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (last entry at 1:15 pm)
- Cost: $20 for adults, $10 for students. Discounts for Hawaii residents available
- Reservations: Not required for small groups
- Website: konahistorical.org
Kalani's Pro-Tip:
"Take your time and 'talk story' with the interpreters. Don't be shy! Ask them to explain how the kuriba works or what it was like to dry beans on the hoshidana. Their knowledge and stories bring this incredible place to life in a way a simple sign never could."
Best Boutique & Organic Farm Experiences
For those who appreciate small-scale farming, sustainable practices, and unique, intimate settings, these boutique and organic farms are true gems.
Hala Tree Coffee
Hala Tree is a beautiful, certified organic coffee and tea farm. It has one of the most breathtaking tasting lanais in all of Kona. The view overlooks the stunning South Kona coastline. The vibe is relaxed, intimate, and deeply connected to sustainable agriculture.
They offer a free, one-hour guided tour of their organic orchards. You must book a reservation in advance. The tour focuses on their sustainable and ethical practices. For those wanting more, they also offer excellent paid workshops in coffee roasting and brewing for just $20 per person. The highlight for many is the tasting session after the tour. It takes place in a magical, treehouse-like structure with incredible ocean view.
Why Kalani Loves It:
"The view from their tasting 'treehouse' is worth the visit alone. It's one of the most peaceful and beautiful spots in the Coffee Belt. I love their commitment to organic farming and the small, personal feel of the tour. It feels less like a commercial operation and more like visiting a friend's beautiful farm."
The Details:
- Address: 82-5966 Mamalahoa Highway, Captain Cook, HI 96704
- Hours: Monday - Friday (by reservation)
- Cost: Free for standard tour. Roasting/Brewing workshops are $20
- Reservations: Required for all tours
- Website: halatreecoffee.com
Kalani's Pro-Tip:
"The free tour is great. But the real magic happens on the tasting lanai afterward. Even if you don't book a paid workshop, ask if you can order a French press of one of their special single-origin roasts. Sipping that coffee while looking out at the ocean is a perfect Kona moment."
Kuaiwi Farm
Kuaiwi Farm is a true throwback. It's a five-acre, certified organic farm that has practiced sustainable agriculture since 1977. This is more than just a coffee farm. It's a diverse, working homestead that also grows cacao (for chocolate!), macadamia nuts, avocados, bananas, and many other tropical delights. The tour here celebrates the Big Island's agricultural bounty.
Kuaiwi offers a fantastic two-hour farm tour and tasting on Sundays and Wednesdays. It costs $50 per person. Reservations are essential as they don't accept drop-in visitors. The tour is a comprehensive walk through their diverse crops. A unique highlight is visiting the cacao orchard. You can see chocolate growing from blossom on the tree to final bean. The tour ends on their breezy lanai with tasting of everything they grow: coffee, chocolate, macadamia nuts, and seasonal fruits.
Why Kalani Loves It:
"This is a true farm-to-table (or farm-to-mouth!) experience. You're not just learning about coffee. You're tasting chocolate made from pods you just saw on the tree and eating mac nuts cracked right in front of you. It gives you deep appreciation for the diversity and richness of our local agriculture."
The Details:
- Address: Located in Captain Cook. Exact address provided upon booking
- Hours: Sundays and Wednesdays, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Cost: $50 per person
- Reservations: Required
- Website: kuaiwifarm.com
Kalani's Pro-Tip:
"This tour is as much about chocolate as coffee. So come with an appetite! The $50 price tag for a two-hour, multi-sensory agricultural experience is incredible value. It's perfect for foodies who want to understand where their food comes from."
Ready for Adventure Coffee Tours?
From ATV adventures to family-run farms with pure aloha spirit, discover more unique coffee experiences.
🏛️ Historic & Boutique Types
Living History Farm
$20 • 1920s authentic experience
Hala Tree Coffee
Free-$20 • Organic with ocean views
Kuaiwi Farm
$50 • Multi-crop organic farm
✨ What Makes Them Special
- Historic preservation
- Organic practices
- Cultural immersion
- Multi-crop diversity
- Family traditions
🎯 Best For
- History Buffs: Living History Farm
- Organic Lovers: Hala Tree & Kuaiwi
- Foodies: Kuaiwi (chocolate too!)
- Ocean Views: Hala Tree treehouse
🔨 Traditional Coffee Tools
- Kuriba (hand-cranked mill)
- Hoshidana (drying platform)
- Kona Nightingales (donkeys)
- Wood-fired roasters
Adventure Coffee Tours
For those seeking a more adventurous approach to coffee exploration, these farms offer unique experiences that combine coffee education with outdoor thrills.
Buddha's Cup
Buddha's Cup is for the adventurous soul. Situated at high elevation of 2,300 feet, this 80-acre estate offers a unique way to explore their farm: by ATV. They focus on producing high-scoring specialty coffees and creating unique tasting experiences. These feel more like a visit to a winery, with carefully curated food pairings.
All tours are by appointment and are paid experiences. They offer a range of options. From a 30-minute "Express Tour" on a Polaris ATV ($30-$60) that gives you great overview of their different estates. To a 60-minute "Deluxe Tour" with more in-depth information. All the way to a 90-minute "VIP Owner Guided Tour" for the ultimate experience ($95-$190). Their tastings are also a highlight. They often feature flights of coffee paired with locally grown snacks.
Why Kalani Loves It:
"This is the most adventurous and fun coffee tour in Kona, hands down. There's nothing like zooming through muddy trails of a coffee farm on an ATV. Stopping to pick and eat fresh fruit right off the trees. It's an unforgettable way to connect with the ʻāina."
The Details:
- Address: 78-1377 Bishop Rd, Holualoa, HI 96725
- Hours: Monday - Friday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm; Saturday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (by appointment)
- Cost: Tours range from $30 to $190
- Reservations: Required
- Website: buddhascup.com
Kalani's Pro-Tip:
"Even if you don't do the full ATV tour, book the 'Deluxe Tasting' for $30. You get a flight of their different award-winning estate coffees. Each paired with a local snack. It elevates the experience from just sampling to a true culinary event, much like wine tasting."
Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee Farm
Nestled on the hills of Holualoa, Heavenly Hawaiian lives up to its name. It's a beautiful, family-run farm with warm, welcoming aloha spirit that makes you feel right at home. The setting is stunning. The tasting area centers around a swimming pool and lanai that offers panoramic views of the countryside and ocean.
Heavenly Hawaiian offers hourly guided tours that last about an hour. They cost a very reasonable $8 per adult (children are free). The tour takes you through coffee fields to learn about growing and harvesting. Then to the drying sheds. What makes them stand out are their unique workshops. Including a "Paniolo Roasting" class to roast your own beans. A "Brew Your Best Cup" workshop. And even a "Paint n' Sip" class on their lanai.
Why Kalani Loves It:
"The vibe here is pure aloha. It truly feels like you're being welcomed into a family's home rather than commercial business. The setting is just gorgeous and so relaxing. It's the kind of place you want to linger all afternoon."
The Details:
- Address: 78-1136 Bishop Rd, Holualoa, HI 96725
- Hours: Monday - Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Cost: Standard tour is $8/adult. Workshops have separate pricing
- Reservations: Recommended, can be booked online
- Website: heavenlyhawaiian.com
Kalani's Pro-Tip:
"Arrive a little early for your tour. They invite guests to enjoy complimentary coffee samples and sweet treats by the pool and on the lanai before the tour starts. It's the perfect way to relax, soak in that incredible view, and get into the aloha spirit."
