Coffee & Cattle Day

Photo by Tom McAlexander

Aikane Plantation Coffee Company hosted a "Coffee and Cattle" event on Friday, May 3, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. At this official Ka'u Coffee Festival event, Phil and Merle Becker explained to participants how coffee is integrated into cattle production and other agriculture. Visitors paid $25 per person in advance and received lunch and beverages in addition to the tour.

In 1894, “Papa” J. C. Searle, Merle’s great-grandfather, planted his first crop of coffee in Ka‘u. His coffee became very popular and received many favorable comments from the local media. Due to a competition for laborers with the sugar plantation, “Papa’s” dream was lost but not forgotten. Over one hundred years later, Aikane Plantation Coffee Company was established by Merle and Phil Becker.

Phil and Merle Becker.
Photos courtesy of Aikane Plantation Coffee Co.

This event will likely occur again during the 2014 Ka'u Coffee Festival, check back later for dates.