Waialua Estate Coffee and Chocolate

Former sugarcane land on the Wahiawa Plateau — the agricultural operation here transitioned to coffee and cacao after the plantation closed in the mid-1990s. The coffee farm covers about 155 acres at around 700 feet above Oahu's North Shore, with a separate 80-acre cacao block down at sea level along the Kaukonahua river. The varietal is Arabica Typica, which tends toward a cleaner, more restrained cup than the wilder fermented profiles popular in specialty right now — if I'm honest, that's not a bad thing. They ship direct, which is the practical bit. If you're curious what Oahu-grown coffee actually tastes like, the only sensible thing to do is order some and find out.

Founded upon the rich agricultural tradition of Dole Food Company Hawaii & Waialua Sugar on the North Shore of Oahu, Waialua Estate Coffee and Cacao grow on former sugarcane lands on the Wahiawa Plateau overlooking Oahu’s famous North Shore. The 155-acre coffee farm sits above the coastal towns of Haleiwa and Waialua at an elevation of about 700 feet above sea level, while the 80 acres of cacao are situated at sea level along the banks of the Kaukonahua river, near Waialua town. With the closure of the sugarcane plantation in 1996 and in response to a growing consumer demand for distinctive, high quality Hawaiian grown products, Dole initiated a program of diversified agriculture to assist displaced workers while expanding the local market with new products. Mr. David Murdock, Chairman of Dole Food Company, was especially interested in the healthful antioxidant benefits of coffee and cacao. Waialua Estate Coffee and Cacao is dedicated to this vision of healthy, nutritious food products and the continued practice of diversified agriculture on the North Shore of Oahu.