Kona Coffee Blossom, or "Kona Snow" in Hawaii 2025
Witness the unique "Kona snow" of Hawaii during the blooming period of coffee trees
Best time: February–March
Hawaii is known for its abundance of flowers year-round, but spring brings a particularly enchanting sight with the blooming of Kona coffee trees. This phenomenon, known as "Kona Snow," transforms coffee farms into a picturesque landscape blanketed with delicate, sweet-smelling white blossoms. These fragile blooms, which last only a few days, are widely admired and photographed by both locals and visitors. The fleeting beauty of Kona Snow attracts people from around the world, drawn to witness this natural marvel that highlights the charm of Hawaii’s coffee-growing region.
Blooming Season
The Kona Snow phenomenon occurs in Hawaii during the coffee tree blooming season, which lasts from February to March. During this time, the plantations are blanketed with delicate white flowers, creating a breathtaking and picturesque sight. By April, the blooming period concludes, and the white flowers give way to green berries, signaling the end of the Kona Snow spectacle.
Best Locations
To witness the captivating beauty of Kona Coffee Blossoms, often referred to as "Kona Snow" due to their delicate white appearance, visit the coffee-growing region on the slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualālai in the Kona District of the Big Island, Hawaii. This area, known as the Kona Coffee Belt, stretches from Holualoa to Captain Cook and is home to numerous small, family-owned coffee farms that welcome visitors for tours and tastings.
Notable spots include Greenwell Farms and Kona Coffee Living History Farm in Captain Cook, Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation in Holualoa, and other popular locations such as Sunshower Coffee Farm, Kuaiwi Farm, and Rooster Farms. Holualoa Village, a charming artist hub nestled in the heart of the coffee-growing region, also offers access to scenic coffee farms and the surrounding landscape. Many of these farms provide fascinating tours, offering an in-depth look at the cultivation of Kona’s renowned coffee while showcasing the enchanting Kona Snow phenomenon during the blooming season.
Kona Coffee
For coffee growers in Kona, Kona Snow signals that red cherries will soon be ready for harvest, marking a fruitful year ahead. After harvesting, the cherries are processed by removing the outer skin, fermenting, and drying on traditional "Hoshidana" platforms, where beans are sun-dried and stirred daily until ready. The beans are then roasted to Light, Medium, or Dark profiles. Kona Snow blossoms also produce fragrant coffee blossom honey, a unique delicacy sold by many local growers.