Ever been to a Kona coffee plantation in a cloud forest? Well, here's your chance. This is a surreal experience as you're literally in the clouds up here at around 3,000-plus feet above the Pacific. It's misty, full of foliage, and just ethereal it seems. Makes you wonder aloud: they really do make coffee up here? Yes, and it's damn good! There is no official designated parking area for this tucked away coffee plantation that sits right off the windy mountain road. So we just parked on the side of the road where everyone else did. Everything is so organized here, and when you walk in, the staff greets you with a smile. It really feels like you're about to enter an amusement park. There's a nice little merch shop right at the entrance. Out in front, they offer free coffee tastings of their light, medium, and dark roasts. Took a swig of their light stuff and wow...super smooth, with very low acidity. Right off the bat you can tell this is high-quality coffee. They offer a free 15-minute tour of their small coffee processing area. Yes, you should do it. Ann was our tour guide for the afternoon and she gave us a brief, but thorough presentation of the history of the coffee plant on the island - where it came from, how it got here up in the clouds, and how they process it, step by step. I learned through her presentation that they handpick their beans here, most of which are as few as 100 yards away from the road. This really isn't a big plantation, so they yield and process small batches. And all those batches end up right in the merch shop. The prices are expensive, but worth it. There is also a self-guided tour that costs $10 per group. You fill out a waiver first, and then head down the path out back that leads you in this really cool, but short, trail that winds down to this large patio overlooking the coffee trees. Also on the trail over to the side, you can see these large lava tubes. A real treat. So yeah, I'd recommend coming to this spot FIRST if you plan on visiting a coffee plantation here on the Big Island. Have fun! read more

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We enjoyed the tour at Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation. It was a nice, short, and informative experience where we learned about the coffee-growing and roasting process. The coffee samples were a great bonus, and we ended up purchasing two bags of coffee beans to take home. The staff was friendly, and the tour was easy to follow without feeling too long. A worthwhile stop for coffee lovers visiting the Big Island. read more

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We arrived in between the free tours and decided to pay $10 to walk on our own through the foliage. That didn't really pay off as it is a very short down hill path and back up to the start with little to see. Since we were disappointed we didn't even bother to wait for the free tour and left. Maybe if the woman at the front of the store had been a bit nicer we might have been inclined to stay but it just wasn't fun. We did learn some facts from the booklet so all was not lost. But think about your timing as the guided tour is free and the self-guided is $10. That seems backwards to me. read more

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Located less than 20 minutes from Kailua Kona, above sea level in a lush plantation, they offer free coffee tours every 30 minutes. It's located on one of the inactive volcanoes and the scenery is absolutely stunning! I'm really glad we came to Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation for our Kona Coffee Tour during our second day on the island. We were immediately greeted and felt welcomed. We did the coffee tour and then after we enjoyed the self-guided nature tour which is $10 per family. They also offer free coffee tastings, and have a store with an assortment of items. I really enjoyed the medium roast. This is such a unique place and worth a visit. It is also very close to the Cloud Forest. You don't need reservations, and it doesn't take much time out of your day. And their coffee is delicious. Thank you, Mike for an awesome tour! read more

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This place was pretty cool. They gave a free 30 min short guided tour. Talked about how their Kona coffee was produced, harvested and made. They had four blends for their free samples. Got a small bag of the dark roast I thought tasted the best. Quite pricey for an 8 oz small bag. read more

Grateful to the gracious employee who served as a greeter, coffee tour guide and sales representative in gift shop. He was very patient, helpful, detailed, and informative. My husband and I attended a free coffee tour that's supposed to be 10 mins and spilled over into 20 mins. He provided a brief introduction at the beginning and to let him know if you have questions at the end of the tour. I have empathy for him when another family from the U.S. continent in our group kept interrupting him with their own questions and perception of making coffee midway while he's explaining the history and process. Smh! Best to first fully listen than save questions at the end. Coffee is grown in Hualala'i mountain. The Hualala'i mountain had one active volcano in its lifetime. Kona coffee thrives in selective weather where it's not too cold nor too humid. Feel free to sample four different caffeinated coffees at no charge. Carafes with tiny cups are available. I took a chance and used my intuition. French Roast (by itself, no cream, no sweetener) was my fave! Surprised and happy that I did not get a headache. Mahalo to low caffeine in French Roast. I also tried Black & Tan on its own which was lighter and quite tasty. I did not try the American which is a light roast due to high caffeine. I also did not try the Vienna, a medium roast due to chocolate. My husband enjoyed the following roasts: American, Vienna, including Black & Tan. He did not try the French Roast. He purchased a bag of French Roast whole beans for his mom. There were no decaf coffee samples available in the carafe. You're welcome to purchase decaf Kona coffee either whole beans or grounded in their gift shop. There's a nature walk tour available for $10. Participation is optional. I loved the higher elevation at 3,200 feet with free parking plus the cool breeze while sipping on samples of Kona coffee! read more

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Had a wonderful time at their free coffee tour! We showed up right when the next tour was happening and was glad because our guide was super informative and interactive throughout the experience. You get to walk in the production factory and relate it to all that you learned at the beginning of the tour. It's quick but you can come early or stay later to fuel up with their samples. We ended up paying the $10 for the nature tour around the property where you can walk closer to plants throughout the property. It's a quick in and out tour but has a slight hill so come visit with some shoes. We did some damage at their souvenier shop and those chocolate covered beans are delish! read more

Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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I just found out that Mountain Thunder sells tea (Makai Tea) and the Mamaki plant is right at the visitor center. It sounds beneficial to your health and also caffeine free so it'll be perfect for night time drinking for person like me who can't drink caffeine late evening. Their gift shop is so cute and full of interesting stuffs. So do spend time browsing around the store! read more

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Hi! Coffee fanatic here! Was vacationing on the Big Island. Husband and I needed to kill some time with our 7 year old. We looked up coffee tours and stumbled on this little gem. Tour is quick and free. The patrons were friendly. There's a little nature trail that's $10 total per family (not per person). You sign a waiver and off you go. You see various plants, a couple of lava tubes that are fenced off, coffee plants up close and a coffee plant orchard. It's neat, it's short, it's cheap, it's a little something to do, and you learn how coffee's made. They have a gift shop of the various types of coffee beans they produce too with samples to try. I enjoyed myself and would recommend. read more

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A wonderful gem in the heart of Kona coffee land. There are many farms you could opt to visit, but we are so glad we chose Mountain Thunder! They are so welcoming from the moment you enter. It's clear they really have a passion for their trade. Our guide did an excellent job of explaining the history of coffee production abroad and here, and told us what qualifies as real Kona coffee. I loved the free tour as he didn't treat it as it was a free offering, but out his heart into it. There is a self-guided farm tour if you wish for $10 per family. And yes, the coffee tasted really fresh and really it's easy to drink this coffee black. The gift shop is also nice. We will order our coffee since we don't have a lot of room in our luggage. They welcome this as well. If we ever want real Kona coffee, we will get it from here. Thank you Mountain Thunder! read more

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Very nice coffee farm with free tour every half an hour from 9 am and complimentary private reserve coffee tasting from American - Vienna- French and Black and Tan roast. Mack is our tour guide with humor and knowledge showed us how the coffee beans are made from tree to roasted. This is the second highest farm in Kona. They also have the self guided tour $10 per family. Cute gift shop with plenty of souvenirs and coffee products. The experience is so refreshing and we learn something new every day. The Kona coffee is so nice. The bathrooms are clean. Everybody is so friendly and provides nice services. Recommended to have this tour if you have an hour before going to the airport. read more

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We wanted a coffee tour that didn't eat up a whole morning, and Thunder Mountain was exactly the right call. We arrived just in time for their 20-minute talk, which covered the entire Kona coffee production process without feeling rushed. The tour requires very little walking, and our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging. We got to taste the coffee afterward, and it instantly became one of our favorites. We took some home and have been loving it ever since. Highly recommend, especially for families with small kids, because it's short, interesting, and genuinely fun. read more

Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation - Information placard - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Awesome shirt tour of the process and knowledgeable staff ! Ratify spot at top of mountain in rain forest. Only 20 minutes drive from airport. Was a great last stop! read more

Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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The coffee plantation was a wonderful activity to do with our family of 8 which included a baby and toddler. You are immediately greeted by one of the workers and they give you the lowdown on what to do and where to go. There are tours led by guides every 30 minutes. Though the tour is free, there is a self-guided nature walk (not part of the tour) that is $10 per family. Group size doesn't matter I don't think. You must fill out a waiver for your group before paying. Your group is given an informational booklet to assist you on the tour. There were so many plants on the tour that we don't get back home such as Taro and Ti so it was lovely to see. The tour was super helpful and informational. It was great to learn the process and check out the machinery where the coffee is made! The medium roast is SUPER delicious. Even as I think of it now, I'm salivating! The gift shop is very cute and has lots of souvenirs. The staff is so sweet and there are 2 adorable cats on the property. You park right outside the entrance on the street. 10/10 recommend read more

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We went here for the coffee tour. It was informative and free (Great price!!) and the guide (Alecia) was very knowledgeable and gave a 15-20 minute explanation of the coffee making process. They had four types of coffee to sample, and you could help yourself, so you can try what you want and as much as you want, also free. Afterwards we did the self guided nature walk, only $10 per family, and it was excellent!! This place is way up in the mountains, creating a unique growing environment, so there were some unique plants and trees. The self guided path is well marked and various plants and trees are labeled with the name and country of origination as many arrived from other parts of the world. There are also lava tubes on the tour, which were fascinating. Everyone on staff was friendly and welcoming, and cheerfully answered the many questions we had. The self guided tour booklet has a wealth of information, with numbers that correspond to the signs along the route. The booklet alone is worthwhile and is something worth keeping. This far exceeded our expectations and I can't recommend it enough!! read more

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After a drive up to the plantation and getting out and feeling how cold it was and rainy, we were happy that they had warm coffee outside. I am always a fan of the light roast and this is probably the best coffee I have had. The place is so cute. We got the free tour which was very informative. Please remember to tip your guide. The store was small but had so much in it. I left with two bag fulls of merch and coffee. We opted to pay extra to walk their botanical garden and I'm glad we did. It was a short walk down and back up but the light rain and mist made me feel like I was floating in the clouds. read more

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This coffee farm is so serene and beautiful. I love that they offer free tours every 30 minutes. Not only that, but they have free coffee for you to test out. You can try out their different type of coffee as much as you want. Our tour guide provided detailed information and you can tell he was passionate about his job and coffee. My cousin and I didn't get to do the self-guided tour. However, I would come back to do this tour again. I heard you can go check out the lava tubes. One thing I would like to point out is the bathroom! It's so clean and also has a shower. Overall, it was a great experience and I highly recommend others to check this place out. read more

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The tour was worth it and interesting! The nature walk was amazing but short. Great views and a good spot to enjoy coffee and a meal read more

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A Hidden Gem for Coffee Lovers - Mountain Thunder Coffee While exploring the Big Island, I knew I had to visit a Kona coffee farm--after all, Kona coffee is world-renowned for its quality and flavor. During my search on Google Maps, I came across Mountain Thunder Coffee, and the best part? Their tours are completely free! In Hawaii, where everything else tends to come with a price, a free tour was a welcome surprise. They open at 9:30 AM, and we arrived about 10 minutes after they opened. Unfortunately, we missed the start of the first tour, but they run one every 30 minutes, so we decided to explore on our own. The gift shop is fantastic--full of coffee samples (which are free to taste) and a wide selection of souvenirs. We also decided to pay $10 to take the self guided walk through their beautiful nature preserve. It's only $10 per family, but be aware that some parts can be steep and slippery, so signing a waiver is required. You also get a little booklet explaining a lot of the plants and things on the property. During our visit, we had the pleasure of meeting one of the resident cats, Miss Princess--she's absolutely gorgeous and wandering around the property like she owns the place! After our self-guided stroll, we joined a guided the guide--who I wish I could remember her name--was fantastic. She was a slightly older woman with gray-brown hair, full of humor, and answered all our questions with enthusiasm. She explained the process of making Kona coffee, what sets Kona apart from other Hawaiian coffees, and the different types of beans, like Peaberry, as well as caffeine content. The gift shop is a must-visit. While the tour is free, I probably spent over $100 on coffee, honey, and souvenirs. They also offer a discount if you sign up for their email--$5 off for purchases of $25 or more. I couldn't resist their retro print featuring a beautiful Hawaiian girl and a vintage airplane, which now proudly hangs above my coffee bar. We also picked up some coffee and honey to share with friends and to enjoy ourselves. If you're in the area, Mountain Thunder Coffee is a must-see for any coffee enthusiast. The combination of free tours, beautiful scenery, friendly staff, and delicious products makes it a standout visit on the Big Island. Would you like me to tailor it more towards a specific tone or audience? read more

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Absolutely amazing coffee and staff. We took one of the free tours that occur every half hour. Our guide was so informative and easy to listen to. We sampled almost all of the coffees. The medium roast was my favorite. It was smooth and balanced. We bought some white chocolate peaberry candy to bring home. If you are in the area definitely check this place out. read more

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We'd been here several years ago and were able to get a pretty private tour back then. Recently visited and tour more detailed and organized and popular with welcoming hosts and great coffee. Their dark version has robust body to it to the same extent as some Sumatra versions tried. Their version of medium roast has excellent sweetness with almost no acidity. I tend toward dark roasts but there was pretty much a selection that was enjoyed by all in our party. read more

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Informative free tour that is about 15 minutes long but worth it for free and you get to try some coffee. We also were able to see the coffee bean processing equipment in the building and they have a great little gift shop. We did pay $10 per family for the short nature trail on the property which was really nice. It had a few lava tubes you could see from the trail and beautiful fauna. It's not far from Kona so a quick trip up the mountain to learn about Kona coffee. read more

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Great free tour. The guide was knowledgeable and able to answer any questions. The coffee was tasty! The staff were friendly. The cats were cute read more

Nice hidden gem that offers free coffee factory tours without reservations but they won't be roasting coffee everyday so call ahead if you have flexibility. With or without the roasting process, you will get an education on Kona coffee and what makes Kona coffee different from other regions. They also offer a self guided walking tour of the coffee fields but it's $10 per group and you need to sign a waiver to do this. Totally low key and low pressure venue and they have free coffee samples and gift store to buy products. You can park along the road near the entrance. Check out my pics! read more

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NICE COFFEE PLANTATION IN THE CLOUD FOREST ================================================= I visited Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation after dropping off my sister at her Kaloko office nearby. It is within the Cloud Forest, so it is really cool and tropical up there. Mountain Thunder offers lots of samples to try which is nice. They have a short informational session that I recommend. You can take a self-guided tour afterward for $10.00 I believe. I did that. I was blown away by their big lava caves. Definitely check it out. I learned a lot about Kona Coffee. It has to be grown within the Kona Coffee Belt which is grown on rich volcanic soil. The Kona Coffee belt is about 30 miles long and three miles wide. It is between Hualalai and Mauna Loa on the west side or Kona, Hawaii. There are about 650 growers within the Kona Coffee Belt. I also learned that the Peaberry coffee is the most rare and expensive. It happens when there is only one nut inside the coffee cherry instead of two. I drank the coffee and ended up buying a big bag for my son and his wife and one bag for myself. I also bought a French press and new grinder and haven't used it yet, but I will when my sister comes to visit. She lives in the middle of the Kona Coffee Belt, yet never buys the expensive Kona coffee. She buys Starbucks if that tells you anything. I do highly recommend checking out Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation. It really is a beautiful property in the middle of the Cloud Forest. read more

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It's a beautiful location with a quick and informative tour, which is free. You can try samples of the different coffees for sale and they're all 100% Kona coffee. Prices are reasonable for 100% Hawaiian coffees. The staff is friendly and the grounds are really pretty. It's a little off the beaten path, but you can get there from the resorts in with a short drive. They're also open all day. Also also the bathrooms are clean. read more

Very informative tour of how coffee is planted and made in Kona. They had light, medium, and dark roast to taste. So there are options to choose from. I liked the light roast so bought 4-5 bags for myself and family. Though Kona coffee is on the expensive side in general, they say that the beans they sell at the site are more premium than in regular retail so i think it is worth a visit to taste special batch of beans read more

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The tour was great. The coffee was great. The views were great. $10 tour for your group is a still. Our party of 5 enjoyed it including two little ones. Learned so much and we walked away with a bag of peaberry beans I am eager to try. read more

Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

This is such a beautiful coffee farm! You can take a short tour of the old coffee area at the entrance and / or take a fun self guided tour of the lava tubes and all the beautiful trees. The self tour is down a super steep hill and while I did do it in sandals, I recommend wearing sneakers! There is also a wonderful gift shop on the property where you can buy their delicious coffee, snacks and merch! If you like cats, they have a resident cat that you can pet and the cat even has his own merch too! All of the employees are super welcoming and knowledgeable. You can taste all of the coffee before buying some, hot of course, nothing like hot coffee on a hot day haha. I highly recommend going here! 10/10 read more

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Not only did they have a free tour and samples, but it was located on a beautiful piece of property in the cloud forest. So scenic! read more

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Really interesting session learning about the life cycle of a Kona coffee bean from growing on a tree, to harvesting, processing and roasting. What a difference in climate from the coast to 20 mins up the mountain. It was cool, cloudy and drizzly. Apparently, the mornings are typically sunny and the afternoons are cool and wet. read more

A great activity if you want to learn more about coffee, Kona coffee, and sample some great roasted coffee. They have a free tour that runs pretty often each hour. We got paired with a great tour guide, forgot his name, but we learned so much about roasting beans, the flavor profile, coffee making, etc. I came out with lots of fun facts and became more appreciative of quality coffee beans that are 100% Kona. After we got the chance to try their coffee, I mean we did before, but we sampled more. They definitely woke us up! We also paid a small fee to check out their little nature walk which was a nice time to check out the different plants/flowers and enjoy a nice view at the end. Kona is absolutely beautiful! You know we will recommend folks to come here! read more

LOVED IT!! What an excellent location to learn all about coffee processing. The tour is free and starts in every 30 mins. There is also free coffee for trial as soon you enter the location. Our tour guide was wonderful lady who explain everything in detail and in a fun way. We never felt the pressure to buy anything but after tasting we had to buy peacoffee toffee ( delicious), their shortbread cookies (define) and their coffee. They also have a nature trail for a 10$ fee which is 10 mins walk round trip and I would highly recommend. We enjoyed the greenery and scenery at the end. read more

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Stopped in on a drizzly day and was immediately welcomed. The coffee tour is free, informative and short. The gift shop was small but you could buy sooo many wonderful things. They let you sample the coffees they grow, roast and sell. They also have a couple of kitties there- one with his own basket on a table- awesome! Coffee is delicious! read more

Excellent free tour! This tour complimented well with the Greenwell tour we had done the day prior. Whereas the Greenwell tour was outdoor around the farm, this tour was moreso a tour inside the processing plant. So together, you get to see firsthand how coffee is produced from start to finish! Our tour guide was funny and knowledgeable. We started in front of a display where he taught us about the coffee growing process then we moved into the processing plant where we saw all the machinery involved to get to the final roasted coffee bean. Lots of great visuals to show the meticulous, careful processes necessary to ensure production of high-quality Kona coffee! There is also a nature walk that is $10 per group. It was short 10-15 min walk through gorgeous tropical forest - always cool to see the vast amounts of different flora and fauna of Hawaii! Also lava tubes! And of course, several different complimentary coffee samples to try! read more

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Great place! When you walk up you are greeted by a very nice gentleman! he explains everything you can do. Next we got to try 4 different coffees all were tasty. Next we signed waivers and began a self guided tour ($10 for the whole group) There were many plants including coffee plants, citrus trees, avacodo trees, many flowers. Also on the short walk you see volcano tubes (keep an eye out for wildlife including chameleons. After our walk we went on a coffee tour (Free) the man doing the tour was very informative, funny and engaging. We got to see in side where they separate the beans read more

Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation - Entrance - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

What a fun location and tour! I loved that it was free and I learned so much about how coffee is made and what makes Kona Coffee so special compared to other types. The presenter was really nice and welcoming. They never pressure you to buy coffee and seem genuine that they want to teach you about the coffee making process. They have 4 different types of coffee you can try with different roast types. There is also a walking trail for $10 for the group which I wish I had time to do. The coffee was really good and pretty fairly priced especially if you compare buying Kona Coffee here in California (3x times the price). read more

Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Mountain Thunder is a Great place to visit while in Kona. This is my second time and it is better each visit. The amount of knowledge the tour guides share is incredible and worth more than one visit! While the tour is great, the coffee....WOW!! I never knew what good coffee was until I tasted, then purchased their Kona coffee. Don't miss out, it doesn't take long, and with two kids (11 $ 13) it was a great break from the beach and they loved it. read more

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A pleasant hour activity close to Kona. They process coffee & do not grow it. Informative little free tour about 10-15. Very pleasant tour guide. You can pay $10 to go on their nature walk but we didn't. They supply umbrellas too. Best part is the unlimited free tastings of their coffees. Very smooth & of course they rely on you buying from their gift shop which we did. read more

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The coffee mill is in the clouds and offers a nice escape from the hot beach. There is a quick 30 min tour where they describe the milling process and show samples of coffee beans from the process. There are 4 different coffees available for tasting, and they don't limit you. After the tour we went on the self-guided $10 tour. It was a very quick stroll but is a nice path through the trees, you only walk over the lava caves and there is no direct access to walk in them. They also play a nice video about the history of the island and volcanic activity. Bathrooms are clean and available for guests. read more

Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation - Complimentary coffee samples - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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