Touring a Kona Coffee Farm & Dinner at Eden's Work

We finally got our rental car replaced, so Mom and I did a bit of exploring on our own while Eden was working.

First, we checked out more of the local outdoor markets. Kona is a very tourist-friendly town, so outdoor markets are a dime a dozen. They all have a lot of the same merchandise ranging from locally picked flowers and produce to handmade jewelry and artisan herbs and foods.

Mom getting into the aloha spirit with some pretty flowers in her hair on her morning walk.

My look for the day. Mom picked some plumerias on her morning walk, so I donned one in my ear. I found out later, it was in the wrong ear. You're supposed to wear it on your left ear if you're taken and right ear if you're available, and I had no idea and wore it on the right side all the time. Sorry Kyle!

Not a stitch of makeup except for some mascara. It's so hot and humid on the island that there's no point. My eyebrows would've melted right off.

My look for the day. I bought this hooded maxi dress from Forever 21 specifically for wearing on the island, so you better believe I was going to wear it at least once.

Very fine ukeleles for sale at the market. Upwards of $200 per piece. 

The flowers for sale at the market. There were so many of them it was almost overwhelming.

 We found a family-owned Kona coffee farm, called Greenwell Farms, and took a mini tour of the place as well as sampled some excellent coffee.

On our way to some good coffee!

Chameleon coffee! If it wasn't so expensive, I would've bought some just because of the name. The guide also said they have three-horned Jackson's chameleons like the ones pictured on the bags in the orange tree next to the store. I would've gone chameleon hunting, but it was raining.

Mom supporting the local coffee farm. :)

It was raining so they supplied us with large umbrellas while we walked around.

One of the Kona coffee trees. The red berries are the ones that are ready to be harvested for roasting.  I also learned that Kona coffee comes from a specific stretch of land at a specific altitude, so there were lots of Kona coffee farms in the area, but I think we picked the best one to tour.

View from the retail store's patio. 

I found the farm cat because I am a crazy cat lady and I can't walk by a cat without saying hi to it. Also, I was very much missing my kitties at home, so any contact with a fuzzy little being was bound to lift my spirits. 

A beautiful orange hibiscus from the tour.

Look at all the coffees to sample! It's a bit like going to a boutique winery - you lose your palate after tasting a few. They also had honey and macadamia nuts from the farm that you could taste.

Eden's work was down the street from the coffee farm and it was about dinner time, so we headed to Patz Pies for some pizza. They sell it by the slice for the most part, but you can also get a whole pizza if you want. I learned that most people in Hawaii work two to three jobs and are not paid a minimum wage. Many earn only tips and it is actually out of the ordinary to have a job that pays minimum wage or better in addition to tips. So we tipped Eden well! Hahaha.

The menu at Patz Pies. Mom and I got two slices of different style veggie pizzas and shared.

Outside view of where Eden works.

Patz Pies!

Stay tuned to hear about our horseback ride in Waipio Valley.

Until next time!