Hurricane Lala, and some news we had been waiting to share

Over the weekend of August 14, Hurricane Lala passed south of Hawaiʻi Island. Of all the islands, our region, Kaʻū, took the worst of it. Strong winds knocked down and washed away thousands of our coffee trees. Jim lost an entire anthurium farm. Excessive rain caused severe flooding, with mud, rocks, trees, and debris rushing through gulches, clogging and overflowing them, damaging bridges and roads, and cutting off entire communities. Many areas are still without power, water, and internet.

We’ll have a clearer picture of the losses as we inspect our fields, remove damaged trees, and begin repairs. Many of you have reached out asking how you can support us. The best way is simply to buy our coffee. Every order makes a real difference right now, and we’re incredibly grateful for your support.

The roads were severely damaged by the storm, so we cannot promise that shipments will get out as usual. There may be some delays — not to worry, your coffee will still get to you freshly roasted.

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Some good news we had been waiting to share

Every year, coffee producers from across the state send their best lots to be judged blind at the Hawaiʻi Coffee Association’s Best of Hawaiʻi competition. Here’s how we did:

• Washed Catuai — 1st place, Micro-Lot Division (500 lbs and over)
• Washed Catuai — 3rd place, Kaʻū District
• Craft Catuai — 3rd place, statewide Innovative Division

See all results on our Awards page →

The Kenneth Davids Cup is Coffee Review’s new global awards program honoring excellence in roasted retail coffee. Samples came from roasters in 35 U.S. states, 14 countries, and 34 coffee-producing origins. Our Washed Blend is a Finalist, with a 95-point score.

If you have been meaning to order, this is the moment. Buying our beans is the most direct way to support us as we recover from Hurricane Lala.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year since our first newsletter. Our little girl, Alina, is now one year old. It’s been the happiest and most challenging couple of years of our lives. Getting the company up and running, becoming parents for the first time, and doing it all in a remote little town in Hawaiʻi has been both a true privilege and a humbling challenge.

This time of year, we’re working hard to get things back in order after the hurricane, preparing for a big harvest, finishing up construction on the farm, and continuing to develop our brand — plenty to keep us focused.

We are so grateful to each of you for your support throughout our journey. We have a lot of exciting things planned and can’t wait to share them with you.

With the warmest aloha,

Jim, Rus and Alla