Kona Coffee Living History Farm
About This Museum
What makes the Kona Coffee Living History Farm so special is that it's the only living history museum in the United States dedicated solely to the story of coffee. You don't just look at artifacts behind glass; you step right onto a real, working five-acre farm that feels frozen in the 1920s. Costumed interpreters, often descendants of the original Japanese immigrant families who worked these very lands, are busy at their daily tasks, from roasting beans in an old-fashioned cast-iron drum to tending the vibrant red coffee cherries. The entire place is a living, breathing storybook where the rich aroma of coffee is part of the tour.
Collection Highlights
The main collection is the farm itself—the meticulously maintained coffee orchards, the original 1920s farmhouse furnished with family belongings, and the traditional Japanese bathhouse (furo). You'll see vintage equipment like a pulper for processing cherries and a hand-cranked mechanical dryer, all demonstrated by the guides.
Visitor Information
Wear comfortable shoes for walking the sometimes-hilly terrain! The guides are fantastic storytellers, so don't be shy about asking them questions as they demonstrate how everything was done a century ago. It's a wonderfully immersive experience that feels more like a visit to your great-grandparents' farm than a formal museum.
Architecture & Building
The farmstead features simple, functional plantation-era buildings adapted to island life. The main house is a classic Hawaiian-style home raised on posts to catch the cooling breezes, with a corrugated metal roof and wide lanai (porch).
Contact & Location
Address: Kona Coffee Living History Farm, 82-6199, Mamalahoa Highway, Captain Cook, Hawaiʻi County, Hawaii, 96704, United States
Phone: +1 808-323-3222
Website: Visit Website
