Aikane Plantation Coffee & Cattle Day

Photos by Jesse Tunison

Merle and Phil Becker of Aikane Plantation Coffee Farm escorted participants on tours of their coffee farm and cattle ranch on Friday (May 1) via horseback, RTV and hay bale rides followed by a scrumptious buffet during "Coffee & Cattle Day."

Merle, a descendant of the first coffee farmer in Ka'u, shared her family's historical involvement in the Ka'u coffee industry. She also explained how coffee can be integrated into cattle ranching and other agriculture.

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.

During this year's event, 2014 Miss Ka'u Coffee Amery Silva and 2011 Little Miss Paniolo 1st Princess Lorilee Lorenzo - a two time award winner at the Ka'u Recipe Contest - demonstrated their ranching skills on horseback as they assisted in roping and branding new calves. 

Visit aikaneplantation.com or phone (808) 927-2252 to reserve your place for next year's event. Participants were asked to pay $25 per person to attend.

For more about the Ka'u Coffee Festival see our website at kaucoffeefestival.com.