Organic kava kava root is different in several significant, important ways from the other kinds of kava that are available. First, no other climate is as conducive to optimizing the strength of this plant than the Hawaiian climate is. It's been documented throughout history that prehistoric Polynesians brought the kava plant over to Hawaii very early on. From there, due to agreeable environmental conditions and cultivation, kava spread with lightning-like speed across all of Polynesia, including here in Hawaii.

Kava's home of origin is unknown, as are kava plants in the wild. Even so, there have been numerous reported sightings of wild kava throughout the world. These reports are generally folklore and have not been scientifically documented. Since all of kava's cultivars are sterile, the plant can only spread through direct human intervention and activity, and this is what makes us even more proud of our organic variety.

Hawaii is most famous for the type of kava known as 'awa (a very rich variation of kava), 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. We firmly believe that our organic certification and all-natural growing methods allow for the full range of kavalactones to develop in the plant.

We take great pride in caring for our plants and only use the highest grade of natural fertilizer. Our specialty, unlike most other farms, is organic kava, and it only takes one taste of our version to know that there is no comparison. We also have a strain that has been proven, despite the claims of others, to be the richest available, rivaling the famous Tudei Kava that most organic kava aficionados are familiar with.

We constantly rotate our crops, ensuring that the roots never rot or degrade in quality due to over-farming. Some parts of our farm may sit dormant for several years, to regenerate the soil, preparing it for the conditions needed for our organic kava to flourish.

The term "organic farming" was coined by Lord Northbourne in his book, Look to the Land, which was published 1940. Through his conception of "the farm as organism," he presented a holistic, ecologically-balanced approach to farming. Applicable terminology aside, organic agriculture is the oldest form of agriculture on earth. Farming without the use of petroleum-based chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides was the only option available to farmers prior to World War II.

The post-war world brought with it technologies that were very useful for agricultural production. For example, ammonium nitrate used for munitions during WW II evolved into ammonium nitrate fertilizer. Organophosphate nerve gas production led to the development of powerful insecticides. These advances since WWII have resulted in significant economic benefits for both the agricultural industry and the consumer. However, these "improvements" also brought with them great detriment to both the environment and society as a whole.

Organic farming utilizes those technological advances which have consistently yielded positive benefits proven over a period of years, such as new crop varieties, more precise technologies and increasingly efficient machinery. Another significant focus of organic farming is to actively discard those methods which have been demonstrated to have a negative impact on the environment, such as increased pollution due to pesticides, as well as increased resistance to pesticides by destructive, menacing insects which are dangerous to crops.

Instead of using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, we at Kona Kava Farm utilize crop rotation, field hiatus and natural-based products in order to maintain and enhance the soil's fertility. We rely on biological, cultural and physical methods to limit pest expansion, as well as to increase the populations of beneficial insects.

Most importantly, we are carrying on the traditional farming methods handed down to us from our forefathers, while incorporating the newest and safest organic farming methods around. We want nothing but the best for our kava crops, for they too are part of our family. We also want nothing but the best for our loyal family of customers, and we pour all this care into every crop we grow on Kona Kava Farm.

If you want to find out more about the farm and the kind folks behind it, where you can also read about world famous athletes and dignitaries who regularly consume kava and participate in kava ceremonies, look to the Who's Makaira? section of our Kava Blog, which contains news of kava testing and its worldwide legal status in every corner of this wonderful world.