Kope

Kope is also known as Arabica coffee or Kona coffee. It is native to Africa. The first plants were brought into Hawaii in 1813. It was only on the Kona Coast that they began to thrive commercially. In the Hawaiian language, kope means "to rake, or shovel" perhaps referring to the drying in the processing of the coffee beans.

Kope spreads as it grows into an upright tree with drooping branches; sizes of the tree vary. However, they all have a thin, dark bark that fissures as the plant ages. The rippled leaves grow parallel with pinnate veins that taper at the point. They are shiny on top and light green underneath. The fragrant white flowers grow in dense clusters at the leaf axils. They look like stars having 5 lobes. After the flowers, the fruit - red oval berries about ²/₃ inches in length appear. Within the fruit are 2 seeds, the coffee beans.

Kope is a perennial evergreen. The tree flowers in the Spring with the peak harvest time being in November. Wild plants grow well in moderately moist forests.

Traditional Cultural and Medicinal Usages

• Roasted seeds are used to make coffee
• Caffeine from the beans is also used to treat headaches
• When visited by honeybees, the flowers produce a light amber, sweet honey