Our Story
Aloha! We are Armando and Karina Rodriguez, founders of Aloha Star 100% Kona Coffee Farm. Our home and farm sit in the Honomalino Acres subdivision of South Kona, along the western slopes of Mauna Loa, right in the heart of the world-famous Kona Coffee Belt. Here, rich volcanic soil, ideal rainfall, and perfect elevation create some of the best coffee-growing conditions on Earth.
Our Journey
When we bought our 13-acre property in 2004, it was a producing macadamia nut orchard. After years of flying back and forth from Phoenix to care for it, we moved permanently to Hawaii in 2013. At first, our plan was to sell Mexican food with the help of Armando’s mom, Doña Lydia, but life had other plans.
Inspired by our friends Godofredo and Matilde Miranda, long-time coffee farmers from El Salvador, at the end of 2013 we planted our very first 200 “keiki” coffee trees they gifted us. We tucked them between the existing macadamia rows, not yet knowing this small beginning would shape our family’s future. And just like that… our Kona coffee story began.
When we launched our coffee brand in 2015, it was originally called King’s Cup 100% Kona Coffee, inspired by King Kamehameha III. But in 2019, the USPTO denied our trademark due to a similar name already registered on the mainland. It was a major setback—new name, new branding, new labels, and financial loss. But we refused to give up.
We searched for a name that honored Hawaii and felt truly ours. That’s when Aloha Star was born. Hawaii is the Aloha State, and from our farm the night sky shines brilliantly. The brightest star—Sirius—glows above the Big Island, visible nearly year-round.
In homage to that star, we renamed our brand Aloha Star, and in January 2020, after USPTO approval, we proudly launched our new identity.
Reinventing Our Brand: From Setback to Opportunity
Living on our farm allows us to care for every tree ourselves and protect the quality of our crop. Over the years we’ve grown from 200 trees to more than 10,000, many started from seed in our own nursery.
In 2021, we expanded by adding a nearby 5-acre parcel, increasing our future production and strengthening our presence as a true estate farm.
As estate farmers, we oversee every step: handpicking ripe cherries, processing and milling, grading and sorting, roasting, packaging, and shipping. From seed to cup, we take pride in crafting authentic, high-quality 100% Kona coffee.
Growing Our Farm, Growing Our Roots
Challenges That Shaped Us
This journey has brought many challenges—but the most difficult came when Karina was diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of 2024. Production paused, and life stood still as she began the fight of her life.
Through unwavering support from her medical team at the Kona Community Hospital Cancer Center, from family and friends, Karina recovered and won her battle, choosing love, gratitude, and love instead of fear. Her strength became the heart of our farm, reminding us that with perseverance, faith, and community we can overcome even the hardest storms.
Honoring The Land, Our Heritage, and Aloha Spirit
Since 2013, we have committed ourselves to continuous learning and excellence in growing, harvesting, processing, and roasting specialty coffee. Our dedication has earned awards and recognition, but the greatest reward is doing this work together—three generations strong.
As Latino immigrants, we are grateful to show our children and grandchildren that honesty, hard work, and faith make any dream possible. Every day, we work to honor Hawaii, respect the land, and uphold the integrity of authentic 100% Kona coffee.
Thank you for choosing us!
-Armando, Karina, and our ohana
Thrilled to be Featured in Two Books
We’re incredibly grateful to Professor Rudy P. Guevara Jr. of Arizona State University (ASU) for featuring us in his book Aloha Compadre: Latinxs in Hawaiʻi. In it, Professor Guevara explores the long history of Latinx people in Hawaiʻi, showing their presence has been part of the islands’ story for over 190 years, dating back to the early 1830s.
The book dives into how Latinx communities have helped shape Hawaiʻi through ranching, plantation work, migration, mixed-race identity, local culture, and food traditions. Chapters cover topics like Mexican vaqueros and Hawaiian paniolos, Puerto Rican migration, Maui pineapple workers, immigration and racial politics, and the creation of a “Pacific Latinidad” in Hawaiʻi.
We feel very honored to has been featured by Professor Mariko Iijima — a historian and professor at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. In her book, A Global History of Kona Coffee: Multilayered Migrations in the Pacific Region, she explores the history of Kona coffee and shows how Kona wasn’t an isolated farming area but a key node in Pacific global history. Over nearly 200 years, “people, things, concepts, and technologies” flowed through Kona’s coffee industry—coffee plants, farming expertise, immigrant workers, colonial ideas, agricultural policies, branding, and specialty-coffee trends all played a part in its development.
Watch Our Story on YouTube
In 2022, Our farm's story was highlighted by @khonnews in a documentary celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th - October 15th). The documentary, presented by veteran Hawaii journalist Jodi Leong, shares stories of members of the Hispanic/Latino community living and working in Hawaii and across the mainland USA.
You can watch the full video, along with other featured stories, on YouTube