As 2024 draws to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on a year filled with new beginnings, heartfelt farewells, and a deepened commitment to supporting our local and global ‘ohana—from Honolulu to Harajuku—and beyond. So grab your favorite brew, sit back, and let’s take a stroll through some of our favorite moments of 2024!
January
Catching the Cherry Wave
Named aptly after nature's wonders, Cherry Wave was more than just a coffee blend; it was a celebration of the seasons and a toast to the bountiful harvest from our own farm in the renowned Kona region. It was a fun, flavorful ride as we invited everyone to experience the perfect blend of tradition, nature, and surf in every sip of Cherry Wave.
For this Cherry Wave blend, we paired our freshly harvested Kona coffee with two natural coffees from Central America. Together, these meticulously selected beans had notes of chocolate covered cherries, cascara tea, mixed berries, jasmine, and sweet red wine.
To read more of what's behind the blend, check out our Catch the Cherry Wave blog.
February
Pono Collective Kona Farm Visit
Uplifting specialty coffee and weaving it into the culinary industry through education is the key goal of Pono Collective. It was a fun day hosting Kapi‘olani Community College Culinary Program students at our Kona coffee farm. Ryson (our Farm Operations Manager) and Tim (our Coffee Roaster) led this educational day touring our farm-to-cup process.
Collaboration with Hapa Girl Studio
This year, we teamed up with our talented friend Jade of Hapa Girl Studio to create stunning new mugs that beautifully blend her love for art and coffee. In her unique designs called Kona and Waikīkī, she celebrates iconic landmarks like Diamond Head, our Kona coffee farm, and the one-and-only Sue Brew Van, successfully capturing the spirit of Honolulu Coffee and the islands we call home.
CreativeMornings HNL on "NATIVE"
Photo Courtesy of Mar Mizunaka
Did you know? We're the official coffee sponsor for CreativeMornings HNL—a breakfast series for the local creative community! We meet every last Aloha Friday of each month for breakfast and brews and celebrate our city's creative talent. CreativeMornings was founded in Brooklyn, New York, but has expanded to events in 207 cities worldwide in 65 countries. Although lecturers include many different creators, designers, photographers, and more, we are all connected by the same monthly theme.
This month, our Hawai'i chapter had the honor of choosing February's global theme: NATIVE. The special guest speaker was Kuhao Zane, Creative Director of Sig Zane Designs and president of Edith Kanakaole Foundation. Get some inspo and watch Kuhao's talk HERE!
Photo Courtesy of Mar Mizunaka
March
National Ag Day
On this day, we raised our mugs to the hardworking hands that cultivate our ultimate Kona coffee experience. Mahalo to our dedicated farm workers that allows us to brew with Aloha every single day!
As our Ryson, our Farm Operations Manager said,
"It's all about the connection between the ‘āina (land), the work, and our ‘ono Kona coffee. Each harvest is not just about the beans, but our ‘ohana's promise to support our local agriculture and community."
April
KHON2 News & Kawaii Kon
April was a month of highlights for our Experience Center. Chris Latronic from KHON2's WakeUp 2Day segment showcased our farm-to-cup Kona coffee experience, putting a spotlight on the heart of what we do. Meanwhile, in celebration of Kawaii Kon at the Hawai‘i Convention Center—just steps away from the Experience Center—we introduced the exclusive “Kawaii Kon Matcha” drink, delighting anime and pop culture enthusiasts with a special strawberry matcha treat.
May
Lei Day with Hapa Girl Studio
Lei Day, celebrated every May 1, is Hawai‘i’s way of spreading the aloha vibes and embracing the beauty of the islands. While the rest of the world marks May Day with springtime festivities, Hawai‘i adds its own special twist, turning it into a heartfelt celebration of the lei and the rich traditions that make island life so unique.
We collaborated with our friend Jade from Hapa Girl Studio for a Lei Day Instagram Giveaway. Our new mugs with Jade's art was a major hit, so we wanted to celebrate with her limited edition Lei Day canvas print and more of our coffee and merch!
Surfing the Waikīkī Waverider
This summer, we collaborated with Waikīkī Beach Services (WBS) for a limited time offer coffee blend inspired by the iconic beaches, exhilarating surf, and the Waikīkī Beachboys. With notes of sweet melon, crisp green apple, and honey graham cracker, it was the best way to kick of summer in Hawai‘i.
WBS has been lucky to have some of the finest canoe steersmen around. These talented watermen learned from, and have been steering through history on the outrigger canoe with legends like Duke Kahanamoku and Steamboat Mokuahi. Together, this group of canoe captains kept the spirit of Hawaiian watersports alive, sharing their passion with locals and visitors from around the world since 1955!
To read more behind the blend, read our Surf the Waikīkī Waverider blog!
June
Tokyo Midtown Pop-Up
We were pleased to announce the reintroduction of our brand in the land of the rising sun! Equipped with new franchise ownership of Honolulu Coffee Japan, we are excited to share the spirit of Aloha to the people of Japan once again. Our team members Abigail and Christian got to help launch their 1st pop-up in Tokyo Midtown, a popular spot in Tokyo's Roppongi district. Fun fact: this pop-up was built in less than 12 HOURS before opening!
Follow @honolulucoffeejapan or visit honolulucoffee.co.jp for updates and info on our next location coming soon.
July
Hawai‘i Coffee Association's 29th Annual Conference
The Hawai‘i Coffee Association hosted its 15th Annual Statewide Cupping Competition at their Annual Conference. Out of 100+ entires throughout Hawai‘i, our farm's fruit-dried Kona typica coffee received 8th place in the Creative Division! Shoutout to Ryson Nakamasu, our Farm Operations Manager, and all of the helping hands that made this possible! On this day and every day, we appreciate the hard work and dedication that truly make the ultimate farm-to-cup Kona coffee experience.
Our 1st Pau Hana & Barista Throwdown Event
One of our company's core values is FUN, so to celebrate our hard-working team members and the end of summer, we had our 1st company-wide Pau Hana & Barista Throwdown event! Mahalo to our volunteers and sponsors who made this possible (Barista Magazine, Kaldi's Coffee, and Y. Hata & Co. Ltd.).
August
2024 Maui Seed to Cup Festival 
The Maui Coffee Association's Seed to Cup Festival is an annual event that celebrates Maui's coffee industry, highlighting the journey of coffee from cultivation to the final brewed cup. It was a great way for locals and visitors to experience Maui's coffee culture, sample a variety of coffees, and engage with the people who grow and produce the island's renowned beans. It was truly amazing to see the Maui community come together for this event. Mahalo to those that stopped by our booth for a Kona coffee pourover and the industry-wide Barista Throwdown we hosted. Hope to see you next year!
September
As we entered the season of Makahiki, it was a time to reflect on the spirit of harvest abundance and gratitude. Makahiki was traditionally celebrated as a four-month period when the land was allowed to rest, people came together to give thanks to the harvest, strengthen community ties, and honor Lono, the god of agriculture, peace and prosperity. For us, it was a meaningful moment to celebrate the bounty of our work and the community we've nurtured together.
Singing the Makepono Mele
What better way to celebrate Makahiki than with a coffee that celebrates and blends many aspects of our current season? We proudly introduced another limited-time offer blend called the Makepono Mele.
In ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, Makepono means “to be beneficial or make things right,” and Mele translates to “song” or “chant.” Together, Makepono Mele is a harmonious composition of flavors and purpose. Crafted with balance and care, this blend is a testament to what we stand for as a company: community, culture, and delivering the perfect cup of coffee. FUN FACT: Makepono is also the street name of our Support Center and Warehouse! Here at 1122 Makepono Street, we ensure everything we do—just like this blend—is done with quality and intention.
Read more behind the blend in our Makepono Mele blog!
National Coffee Day
For National Coffee Day this year, we didn’t just spotlight our farm-to-cup Kona coffee; we showed some love to our customers with a special sale and teamed up with our friends at Honolulu Cookie Company for an epic Instagram giveaway. Because honestly, there’s nothing better than a coffee and cookies combo! This collab has become one of our favorite traditions, and we’re already looking forward to doing it again next year! Mahalo to everyone who joined in the fun—until next time!
October
USAToday's #4 for Best Coffee Subscription
We're in USAToday's Top 5 List for Best Coffee Subscription! We were up against some pretty big names, but with the help from our loyal customers like you, we did it! We were ranked #4 amongst national brands and placed on top of all the other nominated coffee brands in Hawai‘i.
A Hui Hou, Experience Center + Pau Hana Event
To our loyal customers, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude as we announced that the doors of our beloved Experience Center have officially closed. In its final days, we were touched by the overwhelming support from our community, especially at our "A Hui Hou Pau Hana" event, where countless memories and heartfelt messages were shared. Many came by, reminisced, and shared their favorite memories to say farewell to this iconic location. A big mahalo to all of you who made this transition smooth and meaningful—from the cafe team to the bakery and kitchen teams, every one working behind the scenes—and everyone else who have been with us from the start.
November
Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival
What a fantastic experience it was to be part of this year's Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival (HFWF)! We proudly participated in two incredible events—one at the ‘Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach and the other at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. From the rich aromas of our signature Kona coffee pourovers to an eye catching Nitro Hibiscus Ginger Elixir, we couldn't have asked for a better turnout.
HFWF brings together over 150 culinary masters annually for a variety of events, requiring each chef/mixologist to incorporate at least one local ingredient to support Hawai‘i's local farmers, ranchers and fishermen. As part of the non-profit, Hawai‘i Ag and Culinary Alliance, HFWF has donated nearly $5 million to support sustainability, culinary education, and cultural programs in Hawai‘i since 2011!
Bringing back the Mele Kalikimaka Blend
Holidays in Hawai‘i is the best time of year and truly let us celebrate the unique melting pot of people, food, and cultures. Every year, we like to take this opportunity to share our passion of growing, sourcing, and roasting some of the best coffees in the world with our Mele Kalikimaka Blend. This year's blend had notes of green grape, red apple, raisin and dark chocolate!
Keep it Aloha Podcast Collab
In November, we had a film day at our Kona coffee farm. This time, we collaborated with The Keep it Aloha Podcast, a show celebrating the stories, culture, and people of Hawai‘i. Hosted by the one-and-only Kamaka Dias, the podcast shines a light on incredible individuals who embody the Aloha spirit.
This Episode #153 features Leomana Turalde, a true Big Island local with an awe-inspiring resume: a fierce advocate for Hawaiian culture, astrophysicist for NASA, entrepreneur behind this own sunscreen company, a Marine veteran, and a candidate running for office on the Big Island. His conversation with Kamaka is as inspiring as it is diverse, and we're so excited for everyone to hear it!
December
Harajuku Grand Opening
We're also pleased to share the big news from Harajuku, Japan! After the fun of our Tokyo Midtown pop-up earlier this year, we've officially opened the cafe on December 5th! It's been so exciting to see the Japanese community welcome Honolulu Coffee back with open arms. If you're ever adventuring in Japan, make sure to stop by our first official cafe since the pandemic! You'll find us at 1-14-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 1/1 HARAJUKU "K" 1F.
‘ĀINA Farm Stand Grand Opening
We have a new partnership with the Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation, founded by Jack and Kim Johnson. As a non-profit, they are dedicated to supporting environmental education in schools and communities throughout Hawai‘i. Their initiatives include impactful programs like ‘ĀINA In Schools, which focuses on agricultural and nutrition education, and Plastic Free Hawai‘i, which aims to reduce single-use plastics in our islands.
On December 14th, we were honored to be part of the grand opening of the ‘ĀINA Farm Stand in Hale‘iwa, an exciting new venture under the foundation. As one of the local business booths at the event, we helped support their incredible cause.
The ‘ĀINA Farm Stand now serves Honolulu Coffee in their cafe and offers our Kona coffee on their retail shelves, making it a special spot for our community to enjoy. We encourage everyone to visit the ‘ĀINA Farm Stand and the Kōkua General Store on your next trip to the North Shore! Both are located at 66-249 Kamehameha Hwy, Hale‘iwa, HI 96712.
Mānoa Chocolate Bar Partnership
We're excited to announce the arrival of a new treat on our shelves: a locally-produced and locally-designed 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar in collaboration with Mānoa Chocolate, a beloved local chocolate company. This bar is a delicious blend of cocoa butter, organic cane sugar, organic coconut milk powder, dragon fruit powder, and a sprinkle of Hawaiian sea salt. The packaging, too, is a standout, featuring a vibrant, playful twist on our signature palm pattern. The design was created by Lauryn Gordines of Ellemsee, who infused her signature style into this collaboration.
Mahalo, 2024!
From celebrating the roots of our Kona coffee to expanding our reach across oceans, 2024 was all about connecting and spreading Aloha. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our customers, team members, and community partners. Mahalo for being part of our journey, for raising your mugs with us in moments of joy, and for sharing in our love of coffee and community. Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! Here’s to an even brighter 2025.
