NUMILA — New things brewing at Kauai Coffee were announced during Saturday’s open house.
Darla Domingo and Fred Cowell of Kauai Coffee announced the opening of a new Kauai Coffee shop that will be opening in a matter of days at the Coconut Marketplace in Waipouli.
“This will be the first shop outside the Numila visitor center,” Cowell said. “It will bring the popular Kauai Coffee products to a showcase location on the Eastside.”
With the construction completed, crews from Kauai Coffee will prepare the new location for opening its doors to the public.
Cowell also announced a new Kauai Coffee tour that will utilize a special passenger truck that is scheduled to operate once approvals from the Kauai Planning Commission are secured. One of the trams was on display for visitors to look over during Saturday’s open house.
“Once we start, passengers will be driven to a location near the Kukuiolono Park,” Cowell said. “There will be a route that takes guests from the mountain to the sea where Kauai Coffee has its fields. This should be an exciting addition to the Kauai Coffee operation.”
The open house drew a steady flow of patrons who enjoyed free sampling of Kauai Coffee and specials from the visitor center gift shop, and indulged in activities and games. A special guest was Santa Claus in Paradise who flitted between his throne next to the plantation-style Norfolk and the visitor center coffee cup attraction.
Another highlight of the day was when Denise Wardlow, the general manager of the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, was joined by Chef Jason Sessions and Jon Itoga in accepting a $2,000 award from Fred Cowell of Kauai Coffee and representatives of the Kauai County Farm Bureau for the Westin Princeville Foundation.
Sessions won the Celebrity Chef Challenge using Kauai Coffee products during the Kauai County Farm Bureau Fair. Under terms of the challenge, Kauai Coffee would present $2,000 to the nonprofit of the winning chef’s choice.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
