Kona Coffee History

Don Francisco de Paula Marin & Kamehameha planted the first coffee seeds in Hawaii in 1817. The plantings were a failure but
in 1825, the first successful coffee orchard was established by John Wilkinson.

Wilkinson died 2 years later, and others used cuttings and seeds from his small field to begin growing coffee in other areas on the island. This was just the beginning for Kona Coffee.

1842 - Government allowed for the payment of land taxes in coffee

1845 - Kona Coffee is first exported from Hawaii

1890 - Australian Ladybird beetle introduced to control the white scale

1892 - Japanese immigrants began to settle in Kona

1893 - Hawaiian Monarchy is overthrown

1899 - The world coffee market crashes

1917 - World War I causes increased demand for coffee

1918 - Brazil frost kills coffee crop, coffee prices soar

1929 - U.S. Stock Market Crashes

1941 - U.S. Enters World War II

1945 - End of World War II causes coffee prices to rise

1953 - Brazil frost kills coffee crop, coffee prices soar