Christian Twigg-Smith kindly gave the group permission to tour his large coffee farm. This commercial coffee operation is nicely integrated with bananas and islands of native 'ohia lehua trees. There are also areas planted in macadamia nut and avocado. Recently, trial plantings of cacao have been made.
Craig Elevitch describes how the areas of coffee trees are broken up with various plantings on the steeper slopes. On the right hand side of the above photo, breadfruit trees are interplanted with Pacific spinach.
Here is a close-up shot of the steep slope where breadfruit trees are growing with Pacific spinach in between. A few older papayas can also be seen. As the breadfruits grow larger, the crops between them will be displaced. It appears that this area is planted for the benefit of the workers, rather than as commercial crops.
Another close-up of the breadfruit-Pacific spinach slope.
Edge of macadamia nut orchard planted with coffee, cacao, and coconuts.
A coffee orchard bordered by remnant 'ohia lehua trees and other planted forest.
A cacao pod from the trial planting.
Trees surrounding the coffee orchards give a variety of products and much-needed shade for workers.
