Strengthening Our Community
Did you know that when you choose a delicious cup of 100% Kauai Coffee, you’re not just enjoying coffee that tastes like paradise? A portion of your purchase directly supports our ‘ohana and the island community that make Kauai Coffee possible thanks to your purchase of Fair Trade Certified™ coffee.
This year, thanks to customers like you, more than $115,000 was distributed to Kauai Coffee employees and nonprofit organizations serving our island this summer.
What the Fair Trade Premium Means
As a company with Fair Trade Certified™ products, Kauai Coffee participates in a program that ensures much more than fair wages and safe working conditions. With every bag of our Fair Trade Certified™ coffee sold, a portion of the purchase is added to a Community Development Fund that is managed directly by our employees through the Kauai Coffee Fair Trade Committee.
“Our Fair Trade certification is about more than growing exceptional coffee. It is about people and the strength of our Kauai community,” said Emma Shinsky, Kauai Coffee Sales and Marketing Coordinator and Fair Trade Committee Representative. “We are grateful to our customers whose purchases directly support programs that improve lives here on the island.”
The committee, made up of representatives from all areas of our company, works together to identify needs within Kauai Coffee and across our island. Their mission is simple but powerful: to invest in projects that enrich lives, strengthen families, and uplift our community.
Photo: Understory Alliance
Supporting Local Nonprofits
This year’s Fair Trade Premium distribution provided direct support to our employees and funded initiatives across the island. Eight local nonprofits received support, including:
- Waimea High School
- Deaf and Hearing Impaired Field Trip Transportation
- Local scholarships
- Understory Alliance
- Kumu’s Cupboard
- Kauai Habitat for Humanity
- Kekaha Door of Faith Church
- Hawaii Foodbank Kauai
Empowering Employees and the Community
Fair Trade Certification empowers workers to have a voice, a vote, and the ability to direct resources where they are needed most. At Kauai Coffee, our employees decide how to use the Fair Trade funds, ensuring every dollar has a meaningful impact.
Whether it’s funding a school field trip, supporting a local foodbank, or providing scholarships for future leaders, these investments ripple out across the island in ways that benefit everyone.
Every Sip Counts
When you enjoy 100% Kauai Coffee, you are a part of this story. Each cup you brew represents not just the dedication of our farmers and roasters but also a commitment to a stronger, healthier Kauai community. We’re grateful for every customer who makes this possible and proud to continue our Fair Trade journey with you.
