Kona Coffee Living History Farm
Encyclopedia
Kona Coffee Living History Farm depicts the daily lives of early Japanese immigrants to Hawaii during the period of 1920-1945.
It is located on the Daisaku Uchida Coffee Farm 5.5 acres (22,257.7 m²) historic Kona coffee
farm first established in 1900.
It is located at coordinates 19°29′24"N 155°54′49"W, the area now known as Captain Cook, but the traditional land division (ahupuaa) known as Kealakekua.
at the age of 19 on September 27, 1906. After a three year sugar contract at Līhue Plantation on Kauai
, Daisaku came to the Kona District
. Between 1868 and 1924, more than 140,000 Japanese workers came to Hawaii with labor contracts at sugar plantation; many like him decided to leave the plantations and start their own family businesses when their contract expired. In 1912, Daisaku married his cousin, Shima Maruo. They moved to the farm in 1913, expanding it and the house in 1925. The land was owned by the Greenwell family. Henry Nicholas Greenwell
had been in the coffee trading business in the area since the 1870s.
The Uchida family lived here until Shima died at the age of 73 in 1966, and Daisaku in 1986 at the age of 99. Three children were born in the original house, and three in the new one after 1925. The eldest son Masao Uchida also farmed the property until he and his wife Masako retired to Honolulu in 1994.
The long-term leashold
had finally run out, and the land was scheduled to be redeveloped into a residential subdivision. Since the farm had never been modernized, it was instead donated to the Kona Historical Society by Sherwood Greenwell.
The state registry of historic places listed the farm as site 10-47-7509 on April 16, 1994.
On February 9, 1995 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings on the island of Hawaii
as site number 94001621.
The original Henry Greenwell Store
houses the Historical Society, and is also on the National Register.
They are both located on the Mamalahoa Highway, known as the Hawaii Belt Road.
It is located on the Daisaku Uchida Coffee Farm 5.5 acres (22,257.7 m²) historic Kona coffee
Kona coffee
Kona coffee is the market name for coffee cultivated on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Only coffee from the Kona Districts can be described as "Kona"...
farm first established in 1900.
It is located at coordinates 19°29′24"N 155°54′49"W, the area now known as Captain Cook, but the traditional land division (ahupuaa) known as Kealakekua.
History
The farm was owned by Daisaku Uchida, who came to Hawaii from Southern JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
at the age of 19 on September 27, 1906. After a three year sugar contract at Līhue Plantation on Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
, Daisaku came to the Kona District
Kona District, Hawaii
Kona is the name of a moku or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the moku of Kona is divided into North Kona District and South Kona District . The term "Kona" is sometimes used to refer to its largest town,...
. Between 1868 and 1924, more than 140,000 Japanese workers came to Hawaii with labor contracts at sugar plantation; many like him decided to leave the plantations and start their own family businesses when their contract expired. In 1912, Daisaku married his cousin, Shima Maruo. They moved to the farm in 1913, expanding it and the house in 1925. The land was owned by the Greenwell family. Henry Nicholas Greenwell
Henry Nicholas Greenwell
Henry Nicholas Greenwell was an English merchant credited with establishing Kona coffee as an internationally known brand.His family became major land-holders in the Kona District of the island of Hawaii....
had been in the coffee trading business in the area since the 1870s.
The Uchida family lived here until Shima died at the age of 73 in 1966, and Daisaku in 1986 at the age of 99. Three children were born in the original house, and three in the new one after 1925. The eldest son Masao Uchida also farmed the property until he and his wife Masako retired to Honolulu in 1994.
The long-term leashold
Leasehold estate
A leasehold estate is an ownership of a temporary right to land or property in which a lessee or a tenant holds rights of real property by some form of title from a lessor or landlord....
had finally run out, and the land was scheduled to be redeveloped into a residential subdivision. Since the farm had never been modernized, it was instead donated to the Kona Historical Society by Sherwood Greenwell.
Today
Self-guided tours include the orchard, farmhouse and coffee mill. A kiosk is open to visitors, and a full tour by costumed interpreters from the Kona Historical Society is available at limited times. A fee is charged.The state registry of historic places listed the farm as site 10-47-7509 on April 16, 1994.
On February 9, 1995 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings on the island of Hawaii
National Register of Historic Places listings on the island of Hawaii
This is a list of properties and districts on the island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The island is coterminous with Hawaii County, the state's only county that covers exactly one island...
as site number 94001621.
The original Henry Greenwell Store
Greenwell Store
The Greenwell Store is a historic building now run as a museum by the Kona Historical Society.-History:Henry Nicholas Greenwell was an English merchant who originally came to Hawaii in 1850. He went back to England in 1867, and returned and married Elizabeth Caroline Hall...
houses the Historical Society, and is also on the National Register.
They are both located on the Mamalahoa Highway, known as the Hawaii Belt Road.
See also
- Coffee production in HawaiiCoffee production in HawaiiThe only state in the United States of America able to grow coffee plants commercially is Hawaii. However, it is not the only coffee grown on U.S. soil; for example, Puerto Rico has had a coffee industry for some time, although it is not a state but a U.S. territory. Ramiro L...
- Coffee processingCoffee processingProcessing of coffee is the method converting the raw fruit of the coffee plant into the coffee. The cherry has the fruit or pulp removed leaving the seed or bean which is then dried...
- Open air museumOpen air museumAn open-air museum is a distinct type of museum exhibiting its collections out-of-doors. The first open-air museums were established in Scandinavia towards the end of the nineteenth century, and the concept soon spread throughout Europe and North America. Open-air museums are variously known as...