The Future Of Hawaii's Largest Coffee Plantation Is Uncertain – CoffeeTalk

Kauai Coffee, a pivotal agricultural brand and plantation in Hawaii, faces uncertainty as its land lease is set to expire in March 2026, affecting approximately 3,100 acres of coffee trees and hundreds of jobs. During a recent holiday event, Wayne Katayama, the company’s president and general manager, announced that the lease would not be renewed, leading to concerns among staff regarding potential operational changes. The plantation, which produces around 2 million pounds of coffee annually and attracts over 350,000 visitors, has become a significant draw for tourism in south Kauai.

Kauai Coffee, run by an affiliate of the Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group since 2011, has been in negotiations with the landowner, Brue Baukol Capital Partners, which acquired the land in 2022. The operational revenue for the year is projected to be around $25 million, with 141 employees relying on the plantation. The plantation’s lease dispute has raised alarm among local businesses and the tourism sector, which heavily incorporates the plantation into their itineraries.

County and state officials are monitoring the negotiations closely, as the future of the plantation could have widespread implications for the local economy and tourism landscape. Potential resolutions include renewing the lease, changing management, or repurposing the property altogether, with each scenario posing different challenges for employees and the broader visitor economy. Despite these uncertain circumstances, all involved parties express a desire to prevent a shutdown, though clarity on the outcome is anticipated to emerge only in the new year as discussions progress.

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