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HISTORY OF SUGAI KONA COFFEE
Sugai Kona Coffee is able to present some of the best Kona Coffee has to offer because
of the rich heritage of Kona Coffee farmers on both sides of the family. It all began in the
1890's when Grandma Omoto's parents emigrated from Hiroshima, Japan and farmed Kona coffee while
living in grass shacks and using primitive equipment. Grandma Omoto married Grandpa Omoto in
1930 and they farmed Kona coffee intensively. Life as a coffee farmer was a struggle, as the
price of the coffee was down more often than it was up. During the down times, they weaved
lauhala baskets and sold produce as well. Their second daughter, Hilda, married Fusao Sugai
in 1956. He also had a history in Kona Coffee farming. His parents Kurakichi and Seiki
Sugai (as shown above) arrived around 1900 from Japan and raised Fusao working on the coffee
farm. Hilda and Fusao worked on the family Kona Coffee farm for many years while raising their
family. They passed down the business to their youngest son, Lee, in 1989. Lee has attended
many schools, acquiring a Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering degree. Lee married Mimi
Kim and they have two beautiful children, Marshall and Dana (as shown above). Lee has invaluable
knowledge of farming and roasting coffee that was passed down to him from generation to generation.
He invites you see for yourself the results of years of Kona Coffee farming in the Sugai Family.
2002 Kona Coffee Festival Finalist
The Kona Coffee Cupping Competition is a two-day event at the annual Kona Coffee Festival
where as many as 60 farmers enter their finest coffees to be judged by a panel of renowned
experts. They base their score on four positive attributes: fragrance and aroma, taste,
acidity, and body, and three negative attributes: freshness, off flavors, and defects.
After 10 years of not entering, Lee Sugai entered in 2002 an estate coffee that received
2nd place out of 62 entries. This award-winning coffee is available to you in our
on-line store.
"Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow
in your field. Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year,
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© 2003-4 Sugai Kona Coffee Farms. All rights reserved.
