On a bluff overlooking Onomea Bay, a few miles north of Hilo, Hawaii, lies Onomea Tea Company. Onomea Tea Company is a budding tea estate, consisting of nine acres of land that is in the process of being planted with Tea (camellia sinensis). Our first tea plants were planted in 2002 and the founders, Mike Longo and Rob Nunally quickly became inspired to plant more and continue the agricultural history of Hawaii Island.

Onomea Tea is a boutique tea estate, our concentration is on quality. We employ hand-picking and fine processing methods. We currently have more than 2200 plants of tea, that’s about ½ mile of contoured rows of tea. We hope to have 3 to 4 acres of tea planted within the next two years.

In Hawaii it is common to use the Hawaiian word “ONO” to mean good, delicious, or flavorful. “MEA” means place or thing. We think we have been true to the Hawaiian phrase, “ONOMEA” by having a beautiful place for making good, flavorful teas. As you may be aware, the camellia sinensis plant is the plant that is used to make traditional white, green, oolong, and black tea. The plant originated in China and is grown in many sub tropical climates throughout the world. We have found that Hawaii is an ideal place to grow the tea plant. East Hawaii Island has rich, acidic based volcanic soils which is most suitable for tea.

We have processed tea into white, green, oolong and black tea and are impressed by the exotic subtle, yet complex flavors that our environment enables us to produce. All our teas are organically grown. We believe in doing our best to conserve and enhance the environment by careful and healthful stewardship of the land.

We invite you to sample our teas and when your time and inclination beckons, come visit our lovely tea estate. Sampling teas in the environment in which they are grown further enhances the reflective tea experience and what better place to experience tea than the beautiful island of Hawaii.

Aloha Nui Loa,

Rob Nunally and Mike Longo, Owners