There are several farms not far from the house that welcome guests to come and tour. One that comes to mind is Ueshima Coffee (UCC Hawaii Website).
Another that recently started giving tours also on this same drive thru Holualoa is Buddha’s Cup Coffee Buddha's Cup Coffee Website , I’ve met these folks at coffee exhibitions before and they are very personable and not at all pushy when you visit.
There are others as well in Holualoa and that area is just above us from the house! If you head toward Ueshima you will probably pass some others with signs on the same road offering free coffee samples and tours — and that drive up on Mamalohoa Highway is one of the prettiest and gets you off the highway and the fast path — best to do it after rush hour in the morning and before rush hour in the afternoon as lots of locals take that path as a shortcut to avoid the main highway.
Here are simple directions from the house to the Mamalahoa Highway I talk about in the paragraph above:
1. You leave the house go up toward the highway and turn left at the intersection of Hao Kuni and Palani Rd.
2. About .6 mile you will see an intersection to the right (often there are cars for sale on the bank and there is a German Gardener Nursery there as well).
3. Turn right and go up the local street (Mamalahoa Highway) — it is a wonderful drive.
Most coffee farms are further south than Kailua (which is considered North Kona) — around Captain Cook or Honaunau. Every island grows some coffee but the most famous is known as Kona Coffee and most of that comes from South Kona.
Lion’s Gate is South and they give tours with an appointment -- and I think you would like that kind of authentic coffee farm experience (here is her blog: KONAFARMGIRL BLOG. On the way to Lion’s Gate you will pass a rather large establishment called Royal Kona Coffee, and they have at least a dozen coffees to sample — I am not a big promoter of flavored coffees but they do have good ol Kona Coffee samples as well and it is worth the stop, and you can sit and relax and look at the coast from their location while you sip the coffee; they are a bit pricey but the samples are free and it is a nice experience.
One of the most famous and long established is Greenwell Farms, and they have a small museum/store — but call they were renovating it I’m not sure it is still open.
You will also pass Manago Hotel. If you have the time go in and look around, and if you are hungry this is one of the few places left that serves food family style. They are known for their pork chops, but in my opinion they have fallen down on those these days they are somewhat puny — but any of the plates will be good, as well as breakfast if you get there that early.
On the way to the South Kona area or from stop at The Coffee Shack — the food is very good and the view is to die for they are perched on a cliff...very nice when the sky divers are floating around — the place gets packed so early birds get the best seats.
Take a look here for some choices and links and addresses to all these places — also seeing the map may make the cities make more sense...
Although our coffee farm is in vicinity of Lion’s Gate, we are way up the mountain on a coffee land road (much is dirt, one lane, 4 wheel drive) and we just got the farm last April so it is not really ready for tours — but with all the choices you have you will definitely find what you are looking for.
As an aside, if you like Japanese style food, there is one place that shines with local style serving which if you go in the evening and get one of the Japanese Dishes (get #2!) I think you will not be disappointed (they however do not do American breakfast well): TESHIMA'S