The kava plant has long been an integral part of the lives of various Pacific Islander nations. Fiji has a rich tradition of utilizing kava kava, and it is no surprise that Fiji kava is an entrenched part of traditional Fijian life. Here at Kona Kava Farm, we grow and sell organic quality kava kava that rivals the best Fiji kava available.

Although Vanuatu kava has a reputation for being very rich in kavalactones, it can also be quite bitter. In fact, the Vanuatu kava brew often tastes so strong that it blows first timers away. It is said to be stronger-tasting than other types of kava because they use the young roots and do not dry it before turning it into a gluey brew. First timers who want an authentic kava experience but can't get past the taste of Vanuatu kava would do well to try Hawaiian or Fiji kava instead.

While Vanuatu is thought of as kava's home, the plant has an equally long and rich history of use in Fiji. Kava is known as "yaquona" in Fijian, and is often called the national drink of Fiji. That moniker is fitting, as kava is both an integral part of daily life and a staple of social gatherings and ceremonies in Fiji. Perhaps the locals' fondness for kava even explains that beloved phrase, "Fiji time": used to describe Fijians' generally slower-paced lifestyle, the idea behind Fiji time is that if you don't get something done today, there's always tomorrow--or even the next day. Undoubtedly, the relaxation and stress reduction offered by a cup of Fiji kava* don't hurt when it comes to maintaining this laidback attitude!

Relaxed attitude or not, kava is also big business in Fiji: Fiji kava is one the country's biggest export crops, and is also widely available in marketplaces across the islands. Most marketplaces sell bundles of dried "yaquona" root that can be purchased as a sevusevu, or obligatory gift, to give to the chief when visiting a new village.

Fijians are generally friendly to visitors, and tourists may well find themselves participating in a traditional Fiji kava ceremony. Participants are served in order of rank, with the chief drinking first. For visiting groups, the oldest male can serve as a makeshift "chief". The kava is served in a bowl called a bilo, made from half a coconut shell. When the participant receives his or her bowl, the custom is to clap once and drain the kava drink. The drinker finishes off by saying "Bula!", a traditional Fijian expression, and clapping three more times. These formalities over, Fijians usually like to get down to feasting, dancing, and telling stories.

When it comes to kava with a gentler taste and a generous concentration of kavalactones, we believe our Mahakea kava stacks up to the best Fiji kava out there. Hawaii is most famous for the type of kava known as 'awa (a chemotype with a very high concentration of kavalactones), in addition to numerous other varieties such as apu, kau la'au, ke-oke-o, kuaea, kumakua, liwa, makea, mamaka and papa kae, among many others. Our organic certification and all-natural growing methods allow for the full concentration of the kavalactones to develop in the plant.

Whatever you decide to use kava kava for, you can rest assured that the kava we produce here at Kona Kava Farm is the very highest quality available. We rotate our crops religiously in order to ensure that the soil is as healthy and disease-resistant as possible, and we adhere to strict organic farming ordinances. We'd love to hear from you if you have any questions, or if you've tried and enjoyed our kava!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to cure, treat, diagnose, or prevent any disease.