Two Big Island news items: Counterfeit Kona Coffee, and Big Island Abalone reopens.

First the bad. Counterfeit Kona Coffee. The tl:dr version is "woman buys coffee from El Salvador, ships it to Utah, ships it to Hawaii, has an accomplice roast it, and passes it off as 100% Kona." Of course this happened on Ali'i Drive, where all the tourist traps are located.

https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2025/10/02/hawaii-news/kona-woman-accused-of-fraudulently-selling-coffee/?HTH=668ed3a7f057cfd042de2072e413be3afe475221

Now the good. Island Abalone is BACK. These ocean snails are almost extinct in the wild. And they're one of the world's truly-great luxury foods. You can help the company by buying some. And you can help even more by asking (demanding) Big Island Abalone at seafood restaurants, state-wide. Our restaurants make a big production buying lobsters from 10,000 miles away. But they can't buy a better local product? Ridiculous.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPVGnyCEd8K/

This is #1 on my list of "things visitors should try on Big Island." Just south of the airport in an industrial park. #2 on my list is Super J's Cafe. And #3 on my list is either of the two huli chicken stands.