Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
UPCOUNTRY COFFEE TASTING
Gourmet coffee has long gone mainstream, and many farms have established visit-
or centers, where they give free tours and samples. See
www.konacoffeefest.com/
drivingtour
for a list.
www.mountainthunder.com
; 73-1944 Hao St; tours hourly 10am-4pm)
Established in
1998, this award-winning organic farm is located in lush Kaloko Mauka, about 15
minutes from Kailua-Kona. Free 20-minute tours are detailed (and wheelchair ac-
cessible), but for a real indepth look at Kona coffee, try the VIP Tours (per person
$65 to $135; reserve ahead, lunch extra) or become Roast Master for a Day (per
person $199) and roast 5lb of your own beans.
Holualoa Kona Coffee Company
(
800-334-0348, 877-322-9937;
www.konalea.com
;
77-6261 Mamalahoa Hwy; 8am-4pm Mon-Fri)
The Kona Leʻa Plantation in Holualoa
does not use pesticides or herbicides on its beautiful organic farm; tours are excel-
lent.
Hula Daddy Kona Coffee
(
327-9744;
www.huladaddy.com
; 74-4944 Hwy 180;
10am-4pm Mon-Sat)
The attractive tasting room of this multiple-award winner is
the place for cupping seminars. See the website for directions to its upland
Honokohau location.
Kona Blue Sky Coffee
(
877-322-1700;
www.konablueskycoffee.com
; 76-973A Hualalai
Rd; 9am-3:30pm Mon-Sat)
In Holualoa village, this estate's tour includes the
traditional open-air drying racks and a video; it has a nice gift shop. Give Maka, the
handsome resident pooch, a good scratch behind the ears from us.
Rancho Aloha
(
322-9562;
www.ranchoaloha.com
; 75-5760 Mamalahoa Hwy)
This
wonderfully named spot (the owner used to be a Peace Corps volunteer in Colom-
bia) encompasse an organic farm that harvests excellent coffee straight out of the
volcanic soil.
Sleeping
Kona Hotel
HOTEL $
MAP
(
324-1155; Hwy 180; s/d $30/40)
Although attractive from the outside, this pink historic
boarding house (c 1926) is one of those 'only if necessary' properties. It's cheap and you
