Kona Kava Farm - FAQ
 

 

How Do I Contact You?

We're here, from 9:00AM - 5:00PM, Monday - Friday, PT at 773-236-8149. Or, you can reach me, Makaira at makaira @ konakavafarm . com 24/7. We're checking emails around the clock, and WILL respond to you quickly. Returns are easy; see details below! Our RETURNS ADDRESS is:

Kona Kava RETURNS
770 Sycamore Ave 122-493
VISTA, CA 92083


 

Do You Accept Credit Cards?

We accept ANY CREDIT CARDS via PayPal; and you don't need an account. There are also are several high-quality online retailers who carry our entire line of products and have much sleeker websites. Our favorite one happens to be the Kava Marketplace over at Kava.com. They've been very kind to us over the years, and added all of our products to their wide range of Kava products from a number of high-quality vendors. Take a look over there; we believe deeply in the Kava we grow and provide our loyal customers with, and continue to focus our energy on growing and manufacturing the best Kava in the world, instead of focusing on our online store.

In fact, Kava Marketplace has a great set of features for you; they have Account Logins, Wish Lists, 1-Click Reorder and more. They've got a wider catalog of Kava products (including party supplies and other kava-related items), as well Product Recommendations, Facebook integration, and a whole bunch of other features that make your shopping experience the best it can be. We're a farm that first and foremost grows Kava Kava, and we're going back to our "roots," focusing on growing more of our world-famous Kava, instead of trying to both farm and keep up with the 1,200+ orders we were getting each month!


 

Are Your Products Safe?

We couldn't be more proud of the rigorous quality standards that we adhere to at Kona Kava Farm. Not only are all fo our products FDA-compliant, every product we offer us manufactured under strict GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards. This is true from the moment the Kava leaves the ground, to when it arrives in the manufacturing facility, and before it goes out the door and into your waiting hands. We have several key articles explaining the lengths Kona Kava Farm goes to in order to protect you, our treasured customers when consuming Kava root products.

First, there's: Is Your Kava GMP Kava?

Then try: The Golden Glow of Our Kava

And also: Proud of Our GMP Products

 

I'm overwhelmed - Where do I begin???

Fret not! - I am Makaira; part of the family who owned an organic Kava Farm for generations, but I am still here to personally help.  Below is our FAQ which answers most kava-related questions, but I have my "Beginner's Guide to Kava" as well as my Kona Kava Blog where I share all kinds of stories about me, Kava, Kona Kava Farm and my family.  I encourage you to join in the discussion!

 

Do you give tours of the farm?

Unfortunately, our small family farm in Kona, HI no longer exists. The farmhouse burned down several years ago and the property was sold. Our farm was on a private family estate, and although we loved what we did and all of the customers who purchase our Kava, it was also our home. So, we never gave tours to anyone, including locals and/or visiting customers. Instead, we now work with a number of farmers directly, with 2 located in Hawaii, 2 others located in Vanuatu, and one more in Fiji. None of them offer tours of their farms, either, although I know the excitement of walking through rows of Kava plants as tall or taller than you. Perhaps, someday, we'll give tours once again!

 

What about return, shipping and privacy policies?

We do not ship to Mexico, Estonia, Nigeria, Australia, Lebanon, or Israel at this time.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

 

Most Asked Questions

The following answers almost every question we've ever been asked about each of our products, so please look for the answer to your question below by clicking on your product. Also, further information is also available on our website in various places including our "Beginner's Guide to Kava" as well as the Kona Kava Blog.

Contact Us

A TON of articles are here:

Kava Articles

The nutritional content of our products is here:

Nutritional Information

We offer kava kava in several different forms. In terms of strength, lowest to highest strength would be:

We use ROOTS ONLY from our kava plants. We have 90% lateral roots and 10% underground, making our kava some of the best available*.

Our extracted products all use distilled water and pure, organic ethanol as the extractor. We never use any harsh solvents or animal fats at any time.

Powdered Root/Kava Chai: Each tablespoon contains about 225 mg of kavalactones. There are about 32 tablespoons per pound of kava root, which equals 8-16 servings per pound.

If using prescription medications, seek the advice of a health care professional before using this product. Not to be taken during pregnancy or if breastfeeding. Not for use by persons under the age of 18 years or with alcoholic beverages. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Used in excess or with substances that induce drowsiness, the ability to operate heavy equipment or a vehicle may be impaired. Caution: Not recommended for use by individuals with an existing liver condition or those at risk of developing one. US FDA advises that although it appears to be rare, a potential risk of severe liver injury may be associated with kava-containing dietary supplements.

Instant Kava Mix/Kava Concentrate: 2 teaspoons are recommended. Each teaspoon of both the Instant Kava Mix and the Kava Concentrate contain about 225 mg of kavalactones. For these products, there is no straining necessary, and we know many people who eat both right out of the package!

If using prescription medications, seek the advice of a health care professional before using this product. Not to be taken during pregnancy or if breastfeeding. Not for use by persons under the age of 18 years or with alcoholic beverages. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Used in excess or with substances that induce drowsiness, the ability to operate heavy equipment or a vehicle may be impaired. Caution: Not recommended for use by individuals with an existing liver condition or those at risk of developing one. US FDA advises that although it appears to be rare, a potential risk of severe liver injury may be associated with kava-containing dietary supplements.

30% Kavalactone: One of our most popular products, these 300mg capsules contain pure 30% Kavalactone extract (translated, that means there's 30 grams of kavalactones for every 100 grams of pure, finely powered Kona kava root) and Soy Lecithin.

Directions: 1 capsule two times per day. Daily dosage not to exceed 600mg or 2 capsules per day. Maximum period of daily use: 3 months. Use may resume for 3 months after a 2-week break.

If using prescription medications, seek the advice of a health care professional before using this product. Not to be taken during pregnancy or if breastfeeding. Not for use by persons under the age of 18 years or with alcoholic beverages. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Used in excess or with substances that induce drowsiness, the ability to operate heavy equipment or a vehicle may be impaired. Caution: Not recommended for use by individuals with an existing liver condition or those at risk of developing one. US FDA advises that although it appears to be rare, a potential risk of severe liver injury may be associated with kava-containing dietary supplements.

IMPORTANT: Be wary of products on the market that advertise as being "30% Kavalactone". What often happens is that there is a small percentage of 30% kavalactones in the capsule (100mg), and the rest (250mg) is plain root, making them far less effective than our true 30% Kavalactone capsules.

Kava Tincture: The tincture contains 5 ounces of kava kava root for every fluid ounce. We don't have an exact kavalactone count for this product. Kava Tincture contains less than 5% alcohol.

Directions: 5 milliliters 2 times per day. Daily dosage not to exceed 5 milliliters 2 times per day. Maximum period of daily use: 3 months. Use may resume for 3 months after a 2-week break.

If using prescription medications, seek the advice of a health care professional before using this product. Not to be taken during pregnancy or if breastfeeding. Not for use by persons under the age of 18 years or with alcoholic beverages. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Used in excess or with substances that induce drowsiness, the ability to operate heavy equipment or a vehicle may be impaired. Caution: Not recommended for use by individuals with an existing liver condition or those at risk of developing one. US FDA advises that although it appears to be rare, a potential risk of severe liver injury may be associated with kava-containing dietary supplements.

55% / 70% / 84% / 92% Kavalactone Paste: This kava paste is one of our all-times favorites! Use your imagination! 1 or 2 pea-sized amounts is a single serving. There are about 50 pea-sized servings per ounce. For an ultra-pure extract, this paste is made with supercritical CO2 cold extraction technology using only the roots of kava to make the oily kavalactones into a more paste-like form. The high concentration means you only need to take 250 mg per day. Look to the actual product in the cart to see what strength we're offering at the time. With the 84% paste, there are 84 grams of kavalactones in every 100 grams of material. There can be up to a 3% variation in content due to the small batch, hand-processed nature of our products. Our Kavalactone Paste typically tests at 88% to 92% kavalactones, but we still often offer it as 84% Kavalactone Paste since that's what most are familiar with. Currently available only in an 55% concentration of Kavain and yagnonin.

Directions: 145 mg 2 times daily. Daily dosage not to exceed 290 mg. Maximum period of daily use: 3 months. Use may resume for 3 months after a 2-week break.

If using prescription medications, seek the advice of a health care professional before using this product. Not to be taken during pregnancy or if breastfeeding. Not for use by persons under the age of 18 years or with alcoholic beverages. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Used in excess or with substances that induce drowsiness, the ability to operate heavy equipment or a vehicle may be impaired. Caution: Not recommended for use by individuals with an existing liver condition or those at risk of developing one. US FDA advises that although it appears to be rare, a potential risk of severe liver injury may be associated with kava-containing dietary supplements.

55% Full Spectrum Paste: Our Full Spectrum Kava Paste is VERY similar to our Kavalactone Paste, although the "paper" potency is typically about 10% less becuase it's a "Full Spectrum" extract, which retains all of the active as well as inactive constituents in kava kava. This product is made from the same pure kava root as the Kavalactone Paste.

Directions: 175mg 2 times per day per day. Daily dosage not to exceed 350mg. Maximum period of daily use: 3 months. Use may resume for 3 months after a 2-week break.

If using prescription medications, seek the advice of a health care professional before using this product. Not to be taken during pregnancy or if breastfeeding. Not for use by persons under the age of 18 years or with alcoholic beverages. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Used in excess or with substances that induce drowsiness, the ability to operate heavy equipment or a vehicle may be impaired. Caution: Not recommended for use by individuals with an existing liver condition or those at risk of developing one. US FDA advises that although it appears to be rare, a potential risk of severe liver injury may be associated with kava-containing dietary supplements.

84% KavaLOVEtone Capsules: After extensive research, utilizing a combination of science and alchemy to create an alternative for the 84% Kavalactone Liquigels that are not presently available, we came up with this exceptional product that uses pure kavalactones combined with 10 of the purest extracts from some of the most relaxing botanical herbs available. With more strength in our extensive testing than pure kavalactones, this herbal combination promotes a pleasant repose that lasts much longer than expected*.

KavaLOVEtone capsules contain a proprietary spray-dried blend of liquid extracts including pure kavalactone 30%, Hops, Damiana, Sceletium, Mucuna pruriens, Tribulus, Blue Lotus, Valerian, Calamus, Horny Goat Weed, and Hypericum.

Directions: 1 or 2 capsules, 2 or 3 times per day. Daily dosage not to exceed 6 capsules per day. Maximum period of daily use: 3 months. Use may resume for 3 months after a 2-week break.

If using prescription medications, seek the advice of a health care professional before using this product. Not to be taken during pregnancy or if breastfeeding. Not for use by persons under the age of 18 years or with alcoholic beverages. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Used in excess or with substances that induce drowsiness, the ability to operate heavy equipment or a vehicle may be impaired. Caution: Not recommended for use by individuals with an existing liver condition or those at risk of developing one. US FDA advises that although it appears to be rare, a potential risk of severe liver injury may be associated with kava-containing dietary supplements.

*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.

84% Kavalactone LiquiGels: Each LiquiGel contains 58mg of kavalactones per 300mg LiquiGel and they are alcohol-free. Be wary of products on the market that advertise as being "84% kavalactone". What often happens is that there is a small percentage of 84% kavalactone in the capsule, and the rest is plain root, making them far less effective than our true 84% kavalactone capsules.

Directions: 4 capsules per day. Daily dosage not to exceed 4 capsules per day. Maximum period of daily use: 3 months. Use may resume for 3 months after a 2-week break.

If using prescription medications, seek the advice of a health care professional before using this product. Not to be taken during pregnancy or if breastfeeding. Not for use by persons under the age of 18 years or with alcoholic beverages. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Used in excess or with substances that induce drowsiness, the ability to operate heavy equipment or a vehicle may be impaired. Caution: Not recommended for use by individuals with an existing liver condition or those at risk of developing one. US FDA advises that although it appears to be rare, a potential risk of severe liver injury may be associated with kava-containing dietary supplements.

*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.

 

Further Kava Kava Information

Extracting: We always use a blender and then use either cheesecloth or a muslin bag to strain our kava kava. The longer you blend, and the more you squeeze the liquid out of the root after it has been in the blender for 5-10 minutes, the stronger your drink will be. There is no way to estimate the kavalactone content other than by personal experimentation. The more your mouth gets numb, the more kavalactone. Our recipes on our site all refer to the Powdered Root as well. Only the Powdered Root and the Kava Chai needs to be strained; all other products dissolve completely in water.

Powder or Shredded:  We have had such a variety of requests about the form of our kava. Some want it powdered, some want it rough cut, some want it tea cut, and some want it somewhere in the middle. So, we have finally decided to simply offer our kava as a medium grind...no large root pieces, and not powder. We tried different cuts, and realized that there is no way to please everyone, so we decided to go with the form that receives the least amount of complaints.

Our kava is the exact same kava that we have been growing for years; it is the grind of the kava that makes each batch look different. As kava gets finer, it gets darker, so less finely ground kava will be lighter. If you notice a difference in strength between orders, we don't know what to offer you; we enjoy the kava we grow for ourselves, as do all of our friends, and have never noticed a difference in strength from our very first harvest until now, and we are fussy about our kava. We also consistently send our kava off to test for potency, and it has never varied by more than 10%. Lastly, kavalactones, as long as they are kept dry and away from temperatures about 140 degrees, will not lose their strength for many years.

Mixing With Prescription Medication: We're sorry, but we're required by law to inform our customers that we cannot offer any medical advice whatsoever.  Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease, and we are not qualified to give any answers related to the effects kava kava might have with any prescription medication, even if asked for "hypothetical" situations or any variation of that.  We do not endorse or recommend anything here, especially when mixed with any other ingestible product such as prescription medication, other herbs, or any food products whatsoever.  Please ask your doctor any such questions; only they are qualified to answer any prescription medication or health-related issues that you might have in relation to any of our products.

What about shipping times?

Order by 3:00PM, and we will ship your order SAME DAY.  If it is past 3:00PM and you need your order Overnight, please contact us and we can often make arrangements from you, though additional charges may apply, especially if you need Saturday Delivery.

We ship Kava Kava everywhere in the world INCLUDING Canada.  Find out the latest Legal Status of Kava on the Kava Blog.

Also, even though we are swamped with orders, we process ALL orders within 24 hours.  Overnight Express will get your package to you next day if your order is placed before 3:00PM CST on Monday - Thursday, and within 2 business days if it's placed after 3:00PM CST, or on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays.  On rare occasions, depending on your town, Overnight Express is sometimes a 2-Day Delivery, and please remember that we cannot ship FedEx Express to PO Boxes.  **If we ship on the day we state we will ship, you are not entitled to a refund if your town was included in one of these 2-Day shipping exceptions.** 

Priority Mail gets you your order 2-4 days after you place your order
First Class gets your order to you in 7-14 days, on average.

INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS:  Please remember that we have no control over your government, your Customs people, or your Postal System.  We send everything out as Commercial Samples to prevent you from having to pay duties, but that does not guarantee that you will NOT have to pay duties.  If you choose Insured Mail, we guarantee your package will get there, but we do not, under any circumstance, pay for any duties of any kind.  It is your responsibility to find out what you might be responsible for BEFORE you order; we cannot refund your order if your reason for not accepting it is because you had duties levied on your order, and ordering from our site constitutes your understanding and agreement to these terms.

What about shipping charges?

Shipping costs are calculated right in the shopping cart! Add the items, check out, and on the final page the shipping options and costs are displayed. We have several options for shipping:

  • USPS Priority Mail w/Delivery Confirmation - 1-4 business days
  • FedEx Ground/Home Delivery (Continental USA) - 1-5 business days
  • FedEx Express Saver - Guaranteed delivery in 3 business days
  • FedEx 2 Day - Guaranteed delivery in 2 business days
  • FedEx Standard Overnight - Guaranteed delivery next business day by 3:00PM
  • FedEx Priority Overnight - Guaranteed delivery next business day by 10:30AM
  • FedEx Priority Overnight - Special Saturday Delivery - upon advance request ONLY - starting at $10 extra
  • USPS Express - 1-2 business days

* ADDITIONAL SHIPPING CHARGES MAY APPLY FOR ORDERS OVER 3 POUNDS OR FOR INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES; OUR SHIPPING CHARGES ARE ESTIMATES, THOUGH YOU WILL NEVER PAY MORE THAN OUR ACTUAL COST OF SHIPPING. TO EXPEDITE YOUR ORDER, PRE-APPRVE SHIPPING CHARGES IN THE ADDITIONAL NOTES OF YOUR ORDER, OR E-MAIL US TO PRE-APPROVE THE CHARGES.

* Please leave us a note during the final page of check-out with any requests, such as requiring signature for your package or to not include an invoice.

What About International Shipping?

  • USPS International First Class - no tracking available; some tracking to Canada
  • USPS International Priority w/ Tracking for most packages - 6-10 business days
  • USPS International Express w/ Tracking - 3-5 business days

    • Although we ship packages daily worldwide, we cannot be responsible for packages that are shipped Internationally without choosing an insured option. You can request to add insurance to any package by leaving us a note during check-out. If you choose a not to add insurance or select a shipping service which includes it, please know that we cannot offer refunds or replacements if your package does not arrive. Remember that insured packages will have the EXACT cost of the items displayed on the customs form attached to your package. If your package does not arrive in a timely fashion, please contact us to find out what your options are for filing a claim for a lost package.

    Do you share our information with anyone?

    The security of any information you provide us with is very respected. Under NO circumstances will your personal information be rented out shared with anyone.  We do not keep credit card information on file, but we retain your other information in our database so you can log in after you place your first order, saving you from having to enter your information each time you place an order with us.

    Where can I find out even more?

    Our KAVA FAQ page answers all questions we've ever been asked, and has a handy "Strength Guide to Kava" as well.

    Our RECIPES page offers our own favorites as well as customer-submitted recipes for all of our Kava products including our Powdered Kava Root products.

     My KONA KAVA BLOG tells the story of Kona Kava Farm as well as me, my family, and all things related to Kava including it's safety and legality the world-over and much more.  Feel free to join in and comment; I answer every one personally!

    Our Hoodia gordonii has moved to it's own page found in the Hoodia FAQ section.

    Are your products safe?

    We care deeply about what we  offer here at Kona Kava Farm  Our contract manufacturer crafts all of our products in an FDA-registered facility.  There is an extensive library of articles HERE to answer any questions of concerns you may have, as well as additional links to helpful information HERE.