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Kinro, Gerald Y., A Cup of Aloha: The Kona Coffee Epic. University of Hawai`i Press (2840 Kolowalu Street, Honolulu, HI 96822), 2003. xii, 149pp. ISBN 0-8248-2678-7 (pa), $17.95. Illus (b&w). Index. Bib. Acid-Free.
Gerald Kinro’s A Cup of Aloha: The Kona Coffee Epic takes readers on a journey from the heart of Africa to the Big Island of Hawai`i, where the Kona Coffee Belt was born. Kinro, a native of Kona, writes this historic tale with a sense of familiarity; the names and places he chronicles seem to roll off his pen as though he has known them since childhood. Throughout the book, the author intertwines terms specific to the science of growing coffee, but never leaves the farming novice perplexed. In fact, Kinro, who has penned more than one hundred agricultural articles, seems to have a particular gift for defining specialized terms in an easy-to-read manner.
This is an excellent resource for those not familiar with the history and economics of the Kona coffee industry. In its introduction, readers catch a glimpse of the intense struggle that members of the coffee-growing family have had to endure in order to survive amidst stronger industries in Hawai`i. Although the author acknowledges his personal ties to this piece of local history, he is also careful to put it in perspective; Kona coffee is actually very small as compared with the world’s coffee industry. He also points out that even in Hawai`i, it has historically been a minor industry well behind the giant sugar industry of the 20th century. Kinro concludes his introduction with a strong argument for the importance of telling this story: although relatively small, it has proved to be strong, as it has ironically outlasted the sugar industry.
After his brief introduction, Kinro traces the history of coffee in Hawai`i from its humble beginnings in Kona in 1828 through to its niche as an important specialty coffee in the 21st century. Written in brief chapters, readers learn about the rainbow of cultures that have farmed coffee in Hawai`i, the economic roller coaster of the industry, life on a coffee farm and the science of growing the crop itself. However, the writing seems choppy at times and would benefit from including more dialogue throughout the text. The book includes many photographs throughout which add validity to the historical narrative. Later editions might include color photos so readers could visualize the coffee plant in all its glory. In the past decade, there has only been a handful of literature published on this subject. Based on that fact alone, this book is an important one for libraries looking for updated books on local history. It is a welcome addition to the sparse offerings of Akemi Kikumura’s 63-page The Kona Coffee Story: Along the Hawai`i Belt Road (Japanese American National Museum, 1995) and Kent Fleming’s five-page leaflet The Economics of Producing Coffee in Kona (College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources, University of Hawai`i at Manoa, 1998).
Indeed, Kinro has written a book that accomplishes his purpose; readers gain an appreciation for Kona’s coffee farmers’ heroic persistence. In the end, this story proves itself as one deserved to be written. Librarians will appreciate the book’s extensive notes section with bibliographic sources, its excellent index and appendices. Although only available in paperback, it is published on acid-free paper. It is a recommended title for a high school history, Hawaii/Pacific public library, or academic library collection.
Reviewed by Christin Lyons, LIS Student, University of Hawaii at Manoa, April 2005.
Gerald Kinro’s A Cup of Aloha: The Kona Coffee Epic takes readers on a journey from the heart of Africa to the Big Island of Hawai`i, where the Kona Coffee Belt was born. Kinro, a native of Kona, writes this historic tale with a sense of familiarity; the names and places he chronicles seem to roll off his pen as though he has known them since childhood. Throughout the book, the author intertwines terms specific to the science of growing coffee, but never leaves the farming novice perplexed. In fact, Kinro, who has penned more than one hundred agricultural articles, seems to have a particular gift for defining specialized terms in an easy-to-read manner.
This is an excellent resource for those not familiar with the history and economics of the Kona coffee industry. In its introduction, readers catch a glimpse of the intense struggle that members of the coffee-growing family have had to endure in order to survive amidst stronger industries in Hawai`i. Although the author acknowledges his personal ties to this piece of local history, he is also careful to put it in perspective; Kona coffee is actually very small as compared with the world’s coffee industry. He also points out that even in Hawai`i, it has historically been a minor industry well behind the giant sugar industry of the 20th century. Kinro concludes his introduction with a strong argument for the importance of telling this story: although relatively small, it has proved to be strong, as it has ironically outlasted the sugar industry.
After his brief introduction, Kinro traces the history of coffee in Hawai`i from its humble beginnings in Kona in 1828 through to its niche as an important specialty coffee in the 21st century. Written in brief chapters, readers learn about the rainbow of cultures that have farmed coffee in Hawai`i, the economic roller coaster of the industry, life on a coffee farm and the science of growing the crop itself. However, the writing seems choppy at times and would benefit from including more dialogue throughout the text. The book includes many photographs throughout which add validity to the historical narrative. Later editions might include color photos so readers could visualize the coffee plant in all its glory. In the past decade, there has only been a handful of literature published on this subject. Based on that fact alone, this book is an important one for libraries looking for updated books on local history. It is a welcome addition to the sparse offerings of Akemi Kikumura’s 63-page The Kona Coffee Story: Along the Hawai`i Belt Road (Japanese American National Museum, 1995) and Kent Fleming’s five-page leaflet The Economics of Producing Coffee in Kona (College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources, University of Hawai`i at Manoa, 1998).
Indeed, Kinro has written a book that accomplishes his purpose; readers gain an appreciation for Kona’s coffee farmers’ heroic persistence. In the end, this story proves itself as one deserved to be written. Librarians will appreciate the book’s extensive notes section with bibliographic sources, its excellent index and appendices. Although only available in paperback, it is published on acid-free paper. It is a recommended title for a high school history, Hawaii/Pacific public library, or academic library collection.
Reviewed by Christin Lyons, LIS Student, University of Hawaii at Manoa, April 2005.
