When most people think of coffee from Hawaii, they think of 100% Kona. But tucked away on the southern slopes of Mauna Loa is a lesser known, yet equally cherished treasure: Kaʻū coffee.

Kaʻū coffee may not have the name recognition of its famous cousin, but among those who know, Kaʻū coffee is a very special coffee.

It's grown on the southern slopes of Mauna Loa in the Kaʻū district, right next to the Kona Coffee belt. Kaʻū Coffee isn't just about the flavor, although flavor alone would be plenty enough. It's also about the land, the history and the people of Hawaii.

Like Kona, The Land Makes the Bean

Kaʻū is a rugged, rural district, far away from Hawaiian resorts, cruise ship ports and tourist spots. It’s a place where paniolo ride horseback and neighbors wave aloha from trucks.

Long before coffee, Kaʻū was sugarcane country. For more than a hundred years, the Kaʻū Sugar Company dominated the Kaʻū region, employing generation after generation of workers.

In 1996, the sugar mill shut down and hundreds were laid off. Facing loss of jobs, income and a way of life, a handful of former plantation workers and their families saw an opportunity. With determination and aloha spirit, they began planting coffee trees.

Unlike Kona, Kaʻū didn’t have an established reputation. But they had beautiful land right next to where Kona Coffee was grown. Rich, volcanic land that was also ideal for coffee. They had climate that was perfect for coffee cultivation with the same sunny mornings, misty afternoons, and cool nights that made Kona coffee flourish.

But perhaps most of all, they had aloha spirit and the belief that as a tiny community, they could start over and grow something beautiful to offer the world.

From Underdog to Award-Winning Taste of Aloha

Kaʻū coffee burst into the international coffee world in 2007 when it placed in the top ten in the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s cupping competition. Since then, Kaʻū coffees have consistently won awards for complexity and character, served at specialty cafés from Tokyo to San Francisco and even at the White House.

Coffee connoisseurs describe Kaʻū as "elegant" and "luxurious" and this little "cousin of Kona" has become a source of local pride grounded in family farms, small-batch processing, and the spirit of aloha.

What sets Kaʻū coffee apart isn’t just the bean. It’s also the people. Most Kaʻū farms are small and family-run. Some are so tiny they're just a few acres. Many Kaʻū farmers are Native Hawaiian or descendants of sugar plantation workers who made Hawaii their home.

Their stories are woven into the land, and you can taste it in every cup. There’s a deep respect for the land, known as the “āina” in Hawaii. It’s not just soil. It’s a love for home, family and respect in every sip. When you drink Kaʻū coffee, you’re not just sipping coffee. You’re supporting real people, real families, and a real livelihood for rural Hawaiʻi.

For Coffee Connoisseurs: A Bean with Terroir

If you’re a serious coffee lover, Kaʻū offers complexity you’ll want to pay attention to. The region’s high elevations from 2,000–2,500 feet paired with frequent rains, and mineral-rich volcanic soils create a slow-growing environment that allows beans to develop deep, nuanced flavors.

Kaʻū coffee is more than a delicious drink—it’s a symbol of what our islands can accomplish when we support local agriculture, local business, and local families. Kaʻū farmers are our neighbors, our classmates, our ohana. They’ve taken a tough chapter in Hawaiʻi’s economic history and turned it into a success story without losing sight of Hawaiian tradition or community values.

One Sip, and You’ll Know

Kaʻū coffee isn’t as widely available as Kona and it doesn't have the same name recognition yet, but that’s okay. That’s part of its charm. One sip is all it takes to understand why this humble bean from Hawaiʻi’s southern coast has captured the hearts of coffee lovers everywhere.

Notes of citrus, floral honey, brown sugar, macadamia, and dark chocolate have wowed international judges. It’s not uncommon to hear Kaʻū described as "elegant" or "luxurious." A taste of the land, grown and nurtured by the people who live closest to it. A story brewed slowly, with patience and pride.

So next time you’re brewing your morning cup, consider Kaʻū. Not just for the flavor, but for the story and the people behind it. In every cup of Kaʻū, there’s resilience. There’s culture. There’s history. And there’s a deep-rooted love for the land and all it can offer. Taste the story of Kaʻū coffee. You won’t forget it.