Creating Connections: Pono Collective Brings Hawaiʻi Coffee History and Education to Nakupuna Companies
On November 18, 2025, Pono Collective visited Nakupuna Companies and provided a special coffee workshop for their Environmental Services Team. The workshop featured a presentation highlighting coffee’s journey to Hawaiʻi and its 200-year legacy throughout the islands, emphasizing key events, individuals, and institutions that contributed to the development of a thriving local industry recognized worldwide today.
“This presentation made our team reflect on how the coffee industry compares with the environmental work that we do, the similarities and the differences, and the approaches to how the farmers and industry conduct their work.”
The workshop included a tasting of exceptional specialty coffees, such as Aloha Star’s Kona Canela and Kona Farm Direct’s Kona SL-34, both roasted by White Nene Coffee Roasters, and Elepoki Farm’s Kaʻū Yellow Bourbon, roasted by Big Island Coffee Roasters. Their team also sampled a māmaki and ʻulu tea grown and produced by Polipoli Farms on Maui. The guided tasting highlighted local farmers and roasters, allowing participants to appreciate the dedication involved in creating quality products.
While the presentation highlighted Hawaiʻi’s coffee industry and its history, the workshop also provided a valuable team-building experience and helped connect Nakupuna Companies’ mission, values, and commitment to delivering quality work and service to their clients. Alan Ahsing, Nakupuna Companies’ Deputy Environmental Program Manager/Site Superintendent, shared, “This presentation made our team reflect on how the coffee industry compares with the environmental work that we do, the similarities and the differences, and the approaches to how the farmers and industry conduct their work.” Ahsing added, “It provided a space and topic for conversation among our team, and we got to explore the critical thinking from my teammates that went into the discussion.”
A huge mahalo to Alan, Kayla, and everyone at Nakupuna Companies for inviting us to provide this workshop to your team! We are so appreciative of your support in helping our organization grow.
Experiences like these further our mission to strengthen local agricultural education. For more information about Pono Collective’s current workshop offerings, please visit our Coffee Workshop page. Organizations interested in collaborating can contact us at hello@ponocollective.org.