Description: Explore the unique history of Kona and learn about America's second "underground railroad". 150 years of Coffee History from the only US district that grows it
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0 Chasing Perfection The Kona Coffee Story Explore Hawaii's unique and inspiring history, as told by the pioneers of the world famous Kona coffee industry T his is the story of America’s most unlikely mavericks… it’s secret renegades.
Recruited to work on the many sugar plantations which sprawled across the "Big Island" of Hawaii, the Japanese were imported specifically because they were seen as docile, rule-followers. From the very outset, however, these “meek” sojourners defied the expectations of their new masters. Having signed three-year contracts of indentured servitude, the “Issei” (first generation Japanese) were honor-bound to fulfill their commitments.
Many of them, however, were horrified by the living conditions they were expected to endure and the cruel treatment they often suffered at the hands of their overseers. Rather than accept this brutal new reality, a small group of Japanese did the unthinkable... they broke their contracts (dishonoring themselves and their family name) and fled these sugar plantations in the dead of night.