Moki's Farm

MeloMelo Coffee Club is proud to feature Moki's Farm!

Moki's hoshidana

Sunset at Moki's Farm

Moki's Farm is located in Kona in the town of Captain Cook, a region whose name comes from the British explorer, Captain James Cook.  Captain Cook was killed in Hawaii while fighting the Hawaiians during his third voyage to the Pacific.

Prior to the 1960's, most of Captain Cook was a part of Kealakekua Ranch, founded in 1850's by Henry Greenwell.  Greenwell's  decedents have gone on to become one of the largest coffee growers and producers in the Kona region.

Roger showing us his pulper

Moki's farm is at an elevation of 2000 feet in the heart of the Kona coffee belt.  The farm is 2.1 acres and has been a small private family owned and operated farm for over 100 years.  Previous owners farmed the land as lessees and were eventually able to buy it for themselves.  Unfortunately a death in the family put the farm lands into neglect and during the 1980s and 1990s the farm became overgrown and the coffee trees diseased.

In January of 2000 Vivan and Roger Rittenhouse purchased the farm.    They were able to save about 50 trees that are 100 years old, or older, but a vast majority of the land was uprooted and they had to start over.  In 2001 they planted 900 new trees in the "new style" allowing for better weed control and picking conditions.

Moki's Farm produces around 1500 pounds of coffee per year and they sell almost all of it to Sweet Maria's.  The farm has been a finalist in the Kona Cupping Competition 8 of the 9 years they have entered.

Coffee trees planted in the 'new style'

Moki's Catchment Tank