(BIVN) – The winners of this year’s Hawaiʻi Coffee Association cupping contest have been announced. 

The Hawaiʻi Coffee Association’s 15th Annual Statewide Coffee Cupping Competition took place during the 29th HCA conference, held from July 18 to 20 at the Ala Moana Hotel in Waikiki. 

“We are thrilled with this year’s turnout and seeing such enthusiastic participation in our diverse range of presentations,” says conference chair Juli Burden of the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center. “This support is a testament to the dedication of the coffee community here in Hawaii.”

From a Hawaii Coffee Association news release:

Statewide Cupping Competition Results

A total of 103 entries, up from 68 in 2023, vied in the 15th Statewide Hawaii Coffee Association Cupping Competition. Brittany Horn, HCA cupping committee chair and co-owner of Pacific Coffee Research (PCR), notes the competition’s 51 percent higher turnout is likely due to a positive bounce-back after the 2020 introduction of Coffee Leaf Rust and a high-yield year.

“Additionally, the competition committee brought back the commercial division this year,” adds Horn. “In a similar manner to an auction, the commercial division requires a two-pound sample be submitted representative of a 300-pound lot.”

Cupping Competition Winner of Hawaii (Hilo and Puna) District: Deaus Beacomo of Hilo Coffee Company with cupping chair Brittany Horn (courtesy Hawaii Coffee Association)

The annual competition received 20 commercial and 83 creative division entries. The top three scoring coffees of the 103 entries were in the creative division and all hailed from Kona. This division is reserved for smallholder farms with entries under the direct control of owners.

Taking first place overall was a fruit-dried (natural process), 36-hour anaerobic fermentation Geisha variety with yeast inoculation produced by Geisha Kona Coffee earning a record final score of 87.83 points. Monarch Coffee Farm entered a 36-hour ferment parchment-dried (washed) Geisha variety placing second with a score of 87.40. Uluwehi Coffee Farm received a score of 87.25 with a 100-hour ferment with K1 yeast and fruit-dried (natural process) SL34 variety.

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The top 10 highest scoring coffees were recognized and awards were also presented to the top coffees produced in Hawaii Department of Agriculture-recognized growing regions located throughout the islands. Top placing coffees by district were all from the creative division. They included Miranda’s Farms of Ka‘u with a parchment-dried Geisha scoring 85.63 and O’o Farms of Maui earning 84.20 with a pulp-dried (honey-process) Red Catuai variety. On O’ahu, Waialua Estate’s 72-hour ferment and fruit-dried Typica earned 83.42. Hilo Coffee Company of the Hawaii region (encompassing Hilo and Puna) scored an 80.63 with their 72-hour ferment Typica and Hog Heaven Coffee’s Typica of Hamakua earned 80.58.

Cupping Creative Winners of Ka’u from left: Jose & Berta Miranda of Miranda Farms, Joan Obra of Rusty’s Hawaiian Farm, Louis Daniele of Ka’u Coffee Mill (courtesy Hawaii Coffee Association)

Coffees in the commercial division were bested by Hula Daddy’s of Kona’s parchment-dried and yeast-innoculated Typica with 84.29 points. Kona’s Mauka Meadows’ parchment-dried and 24-hour ferment Typica and Kona’s Kopika Farm’s parchment-dried Red Bourbon tied for second place with a score of 82.63. Ka’u Coffee Mill followed in scoring 81.63 with a pulp-dried Typica. Commercial entrants can be growers or processors with corporate brands and multi-estate coffees being eligible.

“I was so impressed with the top scores from this year’s competition,” noted Horn. “The Top Ten’s average score was an 86.6—up from 85.48 last year—and all coffees in the Top Ten scored over 85 points.”

Cupping Creative Winners of Kona from left: Douglas McKanna of Geisha Kona Coffee, Abigail and Sal Munoz of Monarch Coffee Farm, Franck Carisey of Uluwehi Coffee Farm. (courtesy Hawaii Coffee Association)

Kona-based PCR (Pacific Coffee Research [PCR]) organized the competition utilizing a cupping panel composed of local and global coffee professionals led by Madeleine Longoria Garcia, PCR co-owner. “Judges from around the world applied to participate in this yearʻs competition and were invited based on their experience, training and opportunity for engaging with Hawaiiʻs coffee producers,” notes Longoria Garcia.

The panel of sensory judges included:

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• Lora Botanova – Production Roaster of Big Island Coffee Roasters, Q Arabica Grader
• Alex Brooks  -Independent Consultant, Q Arabica Grader
• Krude Che – Hao Lin-Founder of Taiwan Coffee Laboratory, Q Arabica Instructor, SCA AST, Director with the Taiwan Coffee Association
• Madeleine Longoria Garcia – Co-Owner of Pacific Coffee Research, Q Arabica Assistant Instructor, Vice President of Synergistic Hawai’i Agriculture Council
• Marc Marquez – Director of Coffee, Q Arabica Grader
• Oliver Stormshak – Co-owner, President, and Green Coffee Buyer of Olympia Coffee, Oliver’s Custom Coffee and Moonrise Bakery; Q Arabica Grader

Horn served as head competition facilitator and was assisted by PCR’s Meg Duka and Head Roaster Eric Musil.

The panel employed the standard Specialty Coffee Association’s cupping methodology and scoring format. It is a form of scientific sensory analysis where coffees are evaluated and scored based on a variety of subtle characteristics: flavor, aroma, acidity, aftertaste, body, balance, overall cup experience, presence of sweetness, lack of defect and uniformity.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii County’s prosecuting attorney said a Hilo woman has been charged with prohibited possession of a rifle and ammo as well as felony drug offenses.

Police said Jackie Carter, 30, was arrested and charged following a vehicle traffic stop off Kilauea Avenue.

According to police reports, after executing a search warrant of the vehicle Carter was driving, officers recovered a Remington bolt action rifle and live .243 ammunition.

Officials said Carter was charged with the following offenses:

• Ownership or possession of a firearm prohibited
• Ownership or possession of ammunition prohibited
• Promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree (possess any amount of methamphetamine)
• Promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree (possess any amount of oxycodone hydrochloride)
• Promoting a harmful drug in the fourth degree (possess any amount of alprazolam)
• Driving without a license
• Not having no-fault insurance

The prosecutor’s office said Carter faces a penalty of a five-year prison term or four years probation and up twelve months in jail.

Officials said she remains in custody in lieu of $84,000 bail.

Police ask anyone with information on the incident to call CrimeStoppers at (808) 961-8300.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Carissa Moore is the most decorated competitive surfer in Hawaii’s history, topping former World Champs John John Florence, Andy Irons and Sunny Garcia.

And she’s the only Hawaii surfer to ever win Olympic gold in surfing.

Of course, Duke Kahanamoku won multiple medals, but those were in swimming.

“It was super, super special to you know, I felt like through the Olympic journey, last time, I felt like I got to learn a lot about Duke Kahanamoku and his legacy and feel a deeper connection and pride for where I come from, the place treally raised me, the waves, my community and being able to like, represent and surf for something bigger than myself,” Moore said.

Moore competed in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, which was held in 2021 due to the pandemic, and became the first-ever winner of the Olympic gold medal in women’s shortboard surfing.

“Obviously getting to win in Tokyo in 2021 was so so special. But so many things had to fall into place. And so I don’t really feel too much pressure to have to back it up,” she said. “The Olympics far exceeded my expectations that I had, it was the first time so I didn’t really know what was going to happen or how it was gonna change surfing or, you know, if it was just gonna be like another CT event.”

“But it definitely did feel like a bigger stage.”

That’s in the rear view mirror now. Since the landmark victory, Moore has been able to get some me-time.

Previous Coverage: Carissa Moore is stepping away from competitive surfing, but she left a lasting impact

“So I, I’ve actually got to have a few months to just relax and go to Japan with my Nana and my sister. And, you know, I decided to step away from competing full time this year to focus on the Olympics, but also have some time to like, do other things. So it’s been a nice balance of both,” Moore explained.

In preparation for the Olympics, Moore has been logging a considerable amount of time training down in Tahiti on a wave that is not for the faint of heart.

“It’s one of the most intense, intimidating, challenging waves to surf, you really have to have a high level of skill to like read the wave and navigate the steep takeoff. And obviously, there’s a huge risk involved. There’s a shallow reef and you could get very hurt, but you could also have the ride of your life. Comfortable level is, you know, it’s getting there. I think the more than I spend time at the wave and hopefully learn and, and you know, just get the reps up, that will help me to feel more confident. But at this point, I don’t, I don’t know if you can ever feel like 100% comfortable,” Moore said.

Then there’s the competition, the best of the best will be there, including one Tahitian woman who has the luxury of a home break advantage.

“Everyone’s earned their spot and are very, very talented and experienced,” Moore said. “And I’m gonna have to bring my A game if I want to do well there and put in the work.”

Among Moore’s accolades is 11 national titles, five world titles and the Olympic gold title. While she’s a fierce competitor in the water, Moore says it takes a lot to tap into that side of her.

“It’s definitely not natural for me to like, just be super competitive, or confrontational. But like, you have to have a little bit of that like hunger and drive and fire and like get up close and personal at times,” she added.

When asked if another Olympic gold medal could a be trigger back to competing for the world championship again, she responded:

“I don’t know honestly, I haven’t really thought too much further than this summer I’m just trying to really simplify things… I will definitely give myself some space to kind of figure out what I want to do next.”

Win or lose, Moore’s next move will involve her Moore Aloha Foundation which aims to help girls and women navigate the waves of mental health and wellness, and create a life of positivity, purpose and passion.

Her message to young people?

“If I had any advice to the young ones coming up, or just anyone in general, I think just this belief that anything really is possible with hard work and dedication and a lot of love and a lot of aloha. Yeah, you can achieve your wildest dreams. I truly believe that.”

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.