QUESTION: Can you tour a Kona coffee plantation? My family will be in Hawaii on the big island this year on vacation, and I’d like to do a coffee tour while we’re there. — Howard K.
ANSWER: Yes, you can absolutely tour a Kona coffee plantation while you’re on the big island of Hawaii. There are more than 650 coffee farms in the Kona coffee belt, on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa. Many of the farms offer coffee tours to the public, but with the vast number of plantations choosing your coffee tour can be intimidating. That’s where we come in. We’ve prepared this list of recommended Kona coffee tours with some info about each one to help you make your selection.
Kona coffee farm tours generally take about a half hour (unless otherwise specified by the coffee farm). A typical tour involves seeing the coffee plants in the field with the friendly staff and learning about the growing process. This is followed by seeing how the Kona coffee beans make their way through the drying, processing and roasting process. At the end of the tour there is usually a free tasting where you’ll have a chance to taste the local coffee the farm produces. Of course, after a tour of the farm, you will have the opportunity to purchase your own coffee beans grown and roasted directly at the plantation to bring home from your trip.
Keep in mind that for some tours, you’ll need to contact the farm ahead of time to make your reservation, so the tour does not interfere with harvesting or farmers working in the coffee fields. Many of the Kona coffee plantations offer free tours , while others have an associated charge. Some also offer a self-guided tour. Where this information is available, we’ve noted the cost, website, and contact information for each of the Kona tours below.
Buddha’s Cup Coffee Farm Plantation Tour
Address: 78-1377 Bishop Rd., Holualoa, HI 96725
Contact: (808)322-6712; info@buddhascup.com
Cost: Express tour (30 minutes), $30; Deluxe One Hour Tour (60 minutes) $60; Deluxe Tasting Option, $20 (Can be added to any tour.); Kids age 7 to 12 get in half off; Kids age 6 and under get in free
Hours: Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with last tour beginning at 3 p.m.; reservations are required
Website: https://buddhascup.com/pages/konacoffeetours
Greenwell Farms Coffee Plantation Tour
Address: 81-6581 Mamalahoa Hwy., Kealakekua, HI 96750
Contact: (808)323-2295
Cost: 45-minute guided farm tour is free; private group tours (reservation required) $75 for up to 10 people and $7.50 per person after that
Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with last tour beginning at 3 p.m.
Website: https://www.greenwellfarms.com/big-island-kona-coffee-tours/
Hala Tree Coffee Farm Plantation Tour
Address: 82-5966 Mamalahoa Hwy., Captain Cook, HI 96704
Contact: (808)238-5005
Cost: Free one-hour tours
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with last tour beginning at 3 p.m.
Website: https://halatreecoffee.com/farm-tour/
Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee Farms Plantation Tour
Address: 78-1136 Bishop Rd., Holualoa, HI 96725
Contact: (808)322-7720
Cost: One-hour coffee tour is $8; 45-minute Paniolo roasting tour is $45 for one person or $40 each for a group tour of more than one
Hours: Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last tour beginning at 4 p.m.
Website: https://heavenlyhawaiian.com/
Holualoa Kona Coffee Company Farm Plantation Tour
Address: 77-6261 Mamalahoa Hwy., Holualoa, HI 96725
Contact: (808)322-9937; orders@konalea.com
Cost: Free
Hours: Monday through Thursday 8 a..m. to 1 p.m.
Website: http://www.konalea.com/
Hula Daddy Kona Coffee Farm Plantation Tour
Address: 74-4944 Mamalahoa Hwy., Holualoa, HI 96725
Contact: (808)327-9744
Cost: $30 per person for a one-hour tour
Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Website: http://www.huladaddy.com/visitor-center-and-tasting-room
Kona Coffee Living History Farm Plantation Tour
Address: 82-6199 Mamalahoa Hwy, Captain Cook, HI 96704
Contact: (808)323-3222; khs@konahistorical.org
Cost: $20 for each adult; $10 for each student (ages 7 to 17); $15 for each adult Hawaii resident; $5 for each student Hawaii resident (ages 7 to 17); children under age 7 get in free
Hours: Tuesdays and Fridays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Website: https://konahistorical.org/kona-coffee-living-history-farm/
Kona Joe Coffee Farm Plantation Tour
Address: 79-7346 Mamalahoa Hwy., Kealakekua, HI 96750
Contact: (808)666-9750; collier@konajoe.com
Cost: 8-minute video and self guided walking tour is free; standard guided Kona Coffee Farm Tour $20; Interactive Coffee Roasting Experience $99; Combined Guided and Roasting Tours $104; Ultimate Kona Joe Tour and Roasting $549 with additional observers $20 each
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Website: http://www.konajoe.com/pages/tour
Ka’anapali Coffee Farm, which does not currently offer tours
Kuaiwi Farm Coffee Plantation Tour
Contact: (808)328-8888; kuaiwifarm@gmail.com
Cost: $25 per person
Hours: Sunday or Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Website: https://www.kuaiwifarm.com/farm-tour
Mountain Thunder Kona Coffee Plantation Farm Tour
Address: 73-1942 Ha’o St., Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Contact: (808)325-5566; mkt@mountainthunder.com
Cost: Free coffee tasting and tour; $10 per family group Lava Tubes and Nature Walk Tour; Private 4×4 Plantation Tours start at $125 for up to 5 guests; Roast Master Experiences start at $325 for up to 6 guests
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Website: https://www.mountainthunder.com/content/farm-tour-directions
Sunshower Coffee Farm Plantation Tour
Address: 76-1297 Waiono Ranch Rd., Holualoa, HI 96725
Contact: (808)365-4189; joe@sunshowercoffee.com
Cost: Orchard private tour and tastings $30 each
Hours: See website for available tour time slots
Website: https://www.sunshowercoffee.com/farm-tours/
Ueshima Coffee (UCC) Farm Plantation Tour
Address: 75-5568 Mamalahoa Hwy., Holualoa, HI 96725
Contact: (808)322-3789; info@ucc-hawaii.com
Cost: Farm tour is free; Roastmaster & farm tour starts at $45
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day
Website: http://www.ucc-hawaii.com/estate_tour/
Learn More About Hawaiian and Kona Coffee Plantation Tours
https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/hawaii-big-island/things-to-do/land-activities/coffee-plantations