UCC Hawaii Sponsors the Revived Kona Marathon Event After Six Years

UCC Hawaii Sponsors the 27th Kona Marathon

UCC Hawaii recently took on the role of main sponsor for the reestablished Kona Marathon, marking its first comeback since 2019. This annual event, which gathers runners from all over the globe, took place on June 21, 2023, in the picturesque Kona district, located on Hawaii Island.

Established in 1989, UCC Hawaii Coffee Estate sits at the foothills of Mount Hualalai, approximately 460 meters above sea level, in the Kona region, known for its premium coffee. The estate spans around 16 hectares, with roughly 9 hectares dedicated to cultivating about 18,800 coffee trees. UCC Hawaii focuses on nurturing the quality of Kona coffee right from the growth stage, ensuring it meets high standards from farm to cup. With easy access for visitors, the estate also serves as an agritourism site, offering orchard tours, roasting experiences, and harvesting activities. This intertwines them with the local community, facilitating exchanges with producers and fostering advancements in the coffee industry.

In addition to the Kona Marathon, UCC participates in various local events, including the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, held annually in November for more than 50 years.

The Kona Marathon, initiated in 1994 by local entrepreneurs, aims to support the growth of the Kona coffee industry and assist individuals dealing with severe illnesses. UCC Hawaii has consistently sponsored this community initiative, which was paused due to the global pandemic in 2020 but returned this year with great enthusiasm.

The recent marathon introduced a new route along Alii Drive, with the start and finish points set at the Royal Kona Resort in historic Kailua Village. Participants navigated the central part of Kailua Village, returning along this scenic coastal path. This year’s event welcomed approximately 800 runners competing in four categories: the full marathon (26.2 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles), quarter marathon (6.55 miles), and a 5K run (3.1 miles), all under favorable weather conditions that highlighted the beauty of Hawaii Island.

UCC Hawaii provided guests at the Royal Kona Resort with complimentary tastings of 100% Kona coffee from their estate and offered essential limited-edition products exclusive to the marathon. The aim was to let participants and spectators savor the local coffee as part of the event.

Looking ahead, UCC is committed to supplying delicious and high-quality Kona coffee reliably and safely, while also contributing to the competitive evolution of the Kona coffee industry. They envision a sustainable future, emphasized by their “UCC Sustainability Guidelines” established in April 2022. Guided by the mission of facilitating positive global change through coffee, UCC is dedicated to addressing various issues impacting the coffee sector.

With an unwavering spirit rooted in the desire to bring great coffee to as many people as possible, UCC has established a global value chain covering everything from cultivation, ingredient sourcing, research and development, processing, distribution, and sales of coffee. In their continued commitment to sustainability, UCC aims to enhance practices that are environmentally mindful while focusing on new farming methods that respond to climate change.

The UCC Hawaii Coffee Estate plays a pivotal role in creating innovative value and developing sustainable farming techniques. Through tours and hands-on experiences, they educate visitors on the intricate relationship coffee has with the environment and the ongoing challenges faced by coffee producers worldwide, all while highlighting the importance of sustainable practices to maintain a consistent supply of excellent coffee in the future.

UCC remains resolute in its journey to advance the quality and sustainability of Kona coffee for stakeholders, ensuring that its impact resonates well beyond the local community.

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