The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-29
SOLVING LABOR PROBLEM NNALO BICYCLE TRACK
KONA COFFEE PLANTER LOOKING
AFTER THE FUTURE.
Interview With w. Muller, of the Kea-
lakehe Coffee Plantation in Kona-
Guatemala Coffee in Hawaii.

Mr.. w. Muller, proprietor of the Ke-
alakehe coffee plantation in Kona, IS
visits to the metropolis. He will leave
for Horner's plantation in a day or
so, there to examine the Guatemala
coffee trees which are now three or
four years old.
"Coffee is not an experiment in
Kona." said Mr.. Muller this morning.
"The past year has oeen a prosperous
one to the Kona coffee growers and,
as result, all who can increase their
acreage this year are doing SO. am
putting in thirty additional acres of
coffee seed this season.
'What am / planting? Guatemala
coffee seed, the same as all the others
in the district. Everyone is highly
pleased with the success Of the Guate-
mala seed in Kona. According to a test
made in San Francisco not long ago
coffee grown in the Kona district from
the Guatemala seed is superior in
every way than the coffee grown in
Guatemala The Hawaiian product has
been pronounced to have much finer
flavor. The yield is also greater.
"This is due to a change in the eli
matte conditions. This same thing is
true in the case of sugar. The plant
ers on the islands now are beginning
to exchange seed grown on the differ
ent islands.
another thing 1 would like 10
speak of is the fact that very old
coffee trees are thriving in the Kona
district today and yielding good crops
that were planted many years ago. A
relative of mine, Palaualelo, who is
! now IN his ninety-seventh year, plant
ed some seed imported from this lanc
fifty-five years ago, and these same
plants are living today and yielding
their share toward the holualoa
plantation crop"
Have you any trouble in securing
labor, Mr.. Muller?"
"No; not at present. We have too
many laborers in the district as it is
But this is not our most serious
trouble. We realize that when thu
Kona district has attained it's limit il
coffee growing that it will be diff
cult matter to secure men to pick OF
the crop. There is not enough worl
on coffee plantation to employ hell
the year around, the rush being dur
ing the picking season. The coffe
growers have been anxious to devils
some way to hold the laborers in tn
district. 1t has now been determines
to bring the uplands into use. Wit
this end in view small tracts of lam
will be turned over to the Japanes
and other laborers which they viii
farm. Several of us have tried tn
experiment and found it successful
Rice was planted out of season and il
many places it turned out exceedingly
well. Last years experiment ha
taught us that by going farther uT
about 1000 feet or more, that goo
thing can be made of rice cultivation
by planting it in season.
Every coffee grower in Kona is yer,
proud of his coffee. This pride has le'
each grower to place his own staml
on his product. This friendly rivalr,
between the planters is bound to prov
beneficial to the district"
"Have you brand, Mr.. Muller?'
"Oh my, yes. Here it is: 'Kealakeh
Plantation, Kona Coffee, Prim
Washed Now before you ask me
will tell you about prime washed col
fee. You see, after the coffee has beel
pulped there is red juice clinging t
it. This juice win partly dry into tn
coffee and give it red color whel
cured. In order to avoid this w
foment the coffee, then thorough,
wash it. When it is cured the cotfe
has its natural horn green color"