About Us

Together with Atkinson Avocados, we have been growing avocados in South Kona for over 20 years and produce primarily the Kona Sharwil.  We distribute to large retail outlets like grocery stores, resorts and restaurant chains.  Our combined acreage is almost 100 acres of avocado groves in South Kona.   The Kona Sharwil lends itself to distribution because it remains hard for about a week after harvest.  The skin is thicker and protects the fruit from bruising and damage during transport.  The pear “fruit” can get as large as one pound, and the seed is relatively small.  The flavor is buttery and delicious.  Outside of Hawaii, it is almost impossible to find a Sharwil avocado, so they are quite a treat for tourists to enjoy while visiting the Hawaiian Islands.

Growing avocados in Hawaii has its rewards and challenges.   All of our irrigation is provided by mother nature, we rely exclusively on rainfall for all of our trees.  During the wet years, keeping up with weed control can be a full-time job, the grass literally grows before your very eyes.  In the dry years, the younger trees struggle, and we must import water before they become too dry.  There are very few diseases or pests in the avocado fields of Hawaii, but we still must work hard to keep our trees healthy, pest and disease free.  Even though we live and work in paradise, and the weather is phenomenal most of the year, farming is still a difficult job and mother nature likes to test our resolve frequently. 

Living on the largest active volcano in the world presents its own unique experiences.  The soil is very fertile, porous and will grow almost anything you put in the ground.   Avocado trees thrive in this environment.  In South Kona the mountain protects us from extreme weather, very little wind and mild temperatures year-round.  Our average rainfall is 40-60 inches a year and we farm at an elevation of 1500-1800 feet above sea level.  This provides us with a beautiful view of the ocean from most of our avocado groves.  But in the background is Mauna Loa, and at 13,679 feet above sea level, it makes up roughly 51% of the Hawaiian Island.  Mauna Loa means long mountain in Hawaiian, and it is a shield volcano which means it is a long, rounded, sloping volcano.  Mauna Loa has erupted 9 times since 1843 and last did so on November 27, 2022.  The eruption only lasted for 12 days and even though our side of the island was not threatened, it creates a level of uncertainty that is always in the back of your mind.

Anyone who farms knows that it is a calling you are born with.  The connection with the land, the long days and hard work are all part of the experience.  Reaping the benefits of your labor is a reward in itself, but being able to do it in Hawaii is just a dream come true.  Having farmed most of my adult life in California and then moving to Hawaii to do it again, has been challenging, but a challenge that I would not trade for anything.  Dirty hands, smiling faces and beautifully delicious avocados are our trademark.