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Choosing a Kona Hawaii Coffee Tour is daunting. There are a myriad of farms. There are big farms and small farms. Short tours and tours that include classes on roasting and/or making a perfect cup. There are tours that are free and tours with a cost. In the end, we pick our Kona Hawaii Coffee Tour (s) based on
1) Location-Our bed and breakfast, Ka’awa Loa Plantation, is nestled in Captain Cook, on The Big Island of Hawaii. Wanting to avoid driving the entire day, farms closer to our accommodation, work best.
2) Price-Our focus is on tours that are free.
3) Schedule-Even if a tour is free, it may require a reservation, meaning you have to be at a
certain place at a scheduled time. It makes the most sense for our day, to reserve a morning tour, and give ourselves flexibility, by choosing a Kona Hawaii Coffee Tour, that allows for walk-in visitors.
Hala Tree
I’m charmed by Hala Tree’s small farm vibe. Located in Captain Cook, the wood and metal, visitors’ shop, blends in perfectly with the surrounding nature. The basic Hala Tree, Kona Hawaii Coffee Tour, is free, but requires a prior reservation. If you would like, you can add on paid experiences like a more in-depth lesson on roasting and/or an expert brewing lesson.
After checking in for our free tour, we are invited to sample the two coffees set out for tour guests or those visiting the shop. Once everyone checks in for the morning time slot, our guide introduces herself,
“Hi, I’m your guide C, like the letter.”
C’s long, wavy hair, touches her waist. Since it’s October, she dons spider themed leggings. She is exactly how I picture a sustainable, Hawaii coffee farm employee, to look.
Our Kona Hawaii Coffee Tour begins with an explanation of Kona Coffee. It’s complex, but simply put, it is Coffee grown in the Kona region of Hawaii. The temperature, amount of rainfall, and volcanic soil, grow a coffee cherry, with a specific taste. The group is encouraged to examine the plants up close. A beige dog runs up and eagerly greets C. She laughs at the mud covered dog.
“Where have you been? It looks like you had an adventure.”
C explains that dogs are used as organic pest control, deterring other animals from ruining
the coffee crops. At Hala Tree, staff bring their dogs to work.
Hala Tree is a small, sustainable, coffee farm. They work to use everything that grows on the farm, including flowers and herbs used to produce special coffee flavors and teas.
If you have ever rolled your eyes at the price of real, authentic, Kona coffee, we learn how much work and how difficult it is to grow this particular coffee. It is more difficult, if a farm avoids using harmful pesticides and chemicals. Also, the coffee plants have many enemies. The 2021 a coffee leaf rust epidemic, spread quickly through the Kona region, decimating coffee crops. It was a difficult time for everyone, but was especially stressful, for the small farms like Hala Tree. Even though new ways have been created to combat coffee leaf rust, I hear the lingering concern in C’s voice.
Hala Tree, has the wild, jungle, landscape, you crave from a farm in Hawaii.
After an hour amongst the coffee plants, Hala Tree’s Kona Hawaii Coffee Tour, ends at an open-air, treehouse-like, structure. There’s a collective gasp from the tour group, as we ascend the stairs. It is magical. We are surrounded by tropical, neon green, plants, sweet smelling flowers, and an astounding view of bright, aqua-blue, water. There are sofa seats, chairs, and high seats at the bar. We settle at the bar, directly overlooking the water. C describes Hala Tree’s various blends and flavors. She passes out small tasting glasses. There is even a tea to try. C announces that the tour is officially over. We are free to leave, or we can order a French Press pot of Coffee. The French Press pots have an extra cost, but we agree it is worth the price.
The pots are set before us, with a timer, and a description of the blend.
Though most of the tour guests leave, we chat with a woman, man, and their pre-teen son, who also stay for a French Press. It’s agreed that this is the most beautiful place we’ve ever sipped a cup of coffee.
Hala Tree’s coffee blends are interesting and shouting with flavors. They may not be
everyone’s cup of…coffee…if you are a casual or novice coffee drinker, but as we are coffee enthusiasts, the different flavors are exciting.
Since even small farm tours exit through the gift shop, our tour ends where we started. Leaving extra room in our luggage for coffee and macadamia nuts, we purchase a few bags, then leave for our next, very different Kona Hawaii Coffee Tour, at Greenwell Farms.
I’m glad I chose two contrasting coffee tours during our visit to Hawaii’s Big Island. If you are looking for detailed visuals of how coffee is produced from start to finish, Hala Tree’s tour may not be for you. The tour takes place in the coffee plants, so you will not see how the coffee is harvested or processed. You will get to have an honest, down-to-earth, discussion, about the pros and cons of running a coffee farm that takes sustainable practices seriously. The highlight of the tour is the tasting overlooking the ocean.
If you are looking for a free, laid-back, Kona Hawaii Coffee Tour, with intense flavored coffee, make a reservation, at Hala Tree.
Read about our other Kona Hawaii Coffee Tour at Greenwell Farm
Find a great place to stay in the Kona Coffee Region of Hawaii
