The Kona Coffee Living History Farm is a 5.5-acre outdoor museum affiliated with the Smithsonian. Like all living history farms, costumed interpreters act as real-life coffee farmers. Ask them the ins and outs of their work and they’ll go into rich detail, blurring the lines between history and the present day. Traveling from the coffee trees to inside the farmhouse and beyond, you’ll soon discover what goes into a cup of Kona coffee—and what makes it some of the best in the world.
Hours are extremely limited. Though small groups don’t need an appointment, be sure the farm is open before you make your way there.
Many of the staff grew up on the island and have a connection to coffee. They may engage with you, offering hands-on demonstrations, to deepen your experience.
There are delicious free samples and coffee for purchase at the small gift shop.
The farm is easy to find and on-site parking is free. There’s a sign on the makai (seaward) side of the highway that will direct you towards the driveway. Once you’ve arrived, you’ll be greeted and asked to pay an entrance fee; afterwards, you’ll be able to explore on your own.
The farm is often only open two days a week for a few hours a day—usually Tuesdays and Fridays from 10am–2pm. Note that the museum’s final admission is 45 minutes before final closing; check the website to make sure you’ll arrive right when you need to.
During your visit, you’ll taste-test beans off the tree and get in on the process yourself. You’ll hear about the politics of family-operated coffee farms and learn what it was like being a Japanese immigrant prior to WWII. Maybe you’ll even make friends with the pack-carrying donkeys. This isn’t just a look-see into Kona coffee—it’s immersing yourself in the past.
