THE STORY BEHIND HUALALAI ESTATE COFFEE
Aloha! Named after the mountain on which Kona coffee grows, Hualalai (pronounced "who ala lie") Estate Coffee started as a hobby for Joel Cooperson in 1996, with just a couple acres in his backyard. As Joel’s understanding of and passion for Kona coffee grew, so did his business.
As a well-respected teacher in the Kona community for over 30 years, Joel quickly earned the respect of farmers and retailers alike. Hualalai Estate Coffee earned a rare spot on the shelves in the Kona Wal-Mart over 20 years ago, and has since grown its presence in Wal-Marts across the state as well as many other retailers state-wide.
As Hualalai Estate Coffee became increasingly popular, the coffee produced on the 2-acre farm could not keep up with demand. Joel began researching the quality of coffees from other farms. Because of Joel’s rapport and reputation, he was able to select the best of what local farmers have to offer. Currently, Hualalai Estate Coffee sources coffee from hundreds of acres across multiple farms. This contributes to creating a consistently superb product every year, and not being stuck with mediocre crops from bad years, as small farms or large publicly-traded companies are forced to do.
It is a win-win situation, as farmers who don't want to spend time marketing their own coffee can focus on growing the best coffee possible and Hualalai Estate can maintain superior quality through the processing, roasting, and packaging processes. We hope you enjoy your Hualalai Estate Coffee. Mahalo nui loa!
