Immigrant growers get raves for Kāʻu coffee
August 28th, 2008 | by Malamalama Staff | Published in Campus News | 2 Comments
Restauranteur Alan Wong and grower Lorie Obra
Kāʻu is Hawaiʻi’s new specialty coffee. It is among the upscale foods appearing at the Kapiʻolani Farmers Market on Oʻahu, sold online and served at Alan Wong’s Restaurant. Wong is pictured with grower Lorie Obra.
The new name in gourmet beans grew out of a College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources program to assist Filipino immigrants who once worked in the sugar mill at Pāhala.
Thirty-two members of the Kāʻu Coffee Growers Cooperative farm on land leased from the Big Island’s Kāʻu Farm and Ranch and roast their own beans, using information gleaned from workshops and visiting experts.
Two growers had their beans ranked in the top 10 at the 2007 Specialty Coffee Association of America’s international cupping competition, and one placed 11th (topping 12th-place Kona coffee) in 2008.
Tags: agriculture, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, UH Manoa, Vol. 33 No. 3
February 18th, 2009at 4:00 pm(#)
I am considering buying a small 5 acre Kau lease and would become a member of the local organization. I need to ask you some basic questions before I buy to make sure I have a valid purchase of lease and meet any community and state laws on AG. Do you know who I could talk to?
Please email or call me after noon any day or let me call you.
My number is [redacted] cell.
Sincerely,
Michael
February 23rd, 2009at 10:15 am(#)
Hi Michael,
I suggest you browse the website or contact the Kau Hawaii Agriculture Project directly with your questions
http://kauagproject.googlepages.com/
Your email is not posted here as part of your comment, and we do not publish personal information such as cell phone numbers, as a matter of online safety.
Best,
Jeela