Java Kai Old Kapaa Town

09/16/2026

Hey Gang! Tomorrow at our Kilauea shop ⚡️⚡️⚡️

09/16/2026

Again, I totally underestimated this hurricane and its aftermath. Currently only 2 out of 3 of the cafes have electricity. Our warehouse power was only restored yesterday. And while I’m grateful for what we do have, navigating the coffee shop business this last week has been tough.

This weekend we made the tough decision to lay off about 45 employees. With the complete removal of our visitor industry we are suddenly doing 75% LESS business. Not because our business is 75% tourists (it’s somewhere between 40-50%) but because when visitors aren’t throwing money around the local economy just collapses and residents stop spending too.

The skeleton crew that is still working are doing their best to stay busy. We’re cleaning extra and stoked to see the customers that are still stopping by.

It’s a weird time here on Kauai. A lot of people still cleaning up and opening roads and hacking up trees and rebuilding power lines. And a lot of people are starting to worry about paying rent.

Hopefully these fears are temporary. Hopefully we rebuild quickly. And as I was telling one of our landlords this morning, hopefully in a year this time is a somewhat distant memory.

Big love our team and can’t wait to get us all back together 🤙🏾

09/11/2026

we’re open! free iced coffee in Kilauea available until we run out! 🧊🧊🧊

☕️ kapa‘a + koloa: open 7am–2pm

coffee is back to normal at kapa‘a + koloa, with a limited food menu for now. we’ll continue posting updates as things change.

and a little reminder: hold your community extra tight right now. check on your people, support local, and take care of each other.

We love you Kaua‘i

09/11/2026

The last few days have been absolutely nuts. I completely underestimated what this storm would do. Call it wishful thinking or just stupid arrogance. A friend texted me today and casually mentioned it was Thursday… and I realized I had no idea what day it was. That’s how it’s been.

Hurricane Lowell hit Monday night into early Tuesday. Since then it’s just been go go go. Parts of the island look like they’ve been hacked at by a giant machete. Photos don’t really capture it. The destruction is totally surreal.

Amazingly, there were very few injuries and possibly only one direct fatality. The aftermath is still severe. A lot of homes and businesses will need to be rebuilt. A lot of lives changed forever.

Thankfully, the entire Java Kai team made it through. And the shops, somehow, suffered very little damage. We were able to hand out a lot of food from our fridges before it went bad and hopefully that helped some people.

We still don’t have power at the coffee roastery or Kilauea shop, but that will come.

*side note: Apologies to anyone waiting for their online orders… Hopefully by Monday, we’ll be able to start sending things out again!

Don’t really know what the coming days look like or how exactly we’ll navigate it but I am super grateful I get to do this thing on Kauai. Not everyone gets to see and feel the magic here. Everyone stepping up to help each other and be of service all over this little island.

Mostly I’m proud of our JK Gang! They’re jumping in to clean, give out food and ice, and clearing roads in Poipu— all with smiles aloha and sweat. The second power came back on they were prepping, mixing, brewing, and baking. I’m loving every damn minute with this crew and they truly inspire me to keep on moving!

Finally, big ups to the hammer that dropped Taco Bell off today. Sometimes a run for the border really is the best temporary cure!

-Sean

09/10/2026

Hey Kauai!
kapaʻa + koloa are OPEN today!

and if you’re out there working for KIUC, Hawaiian Electric, EMT, or you’re in uniform keeping this island moving, come through and head straight to our baristas… your coffee is FREE!

Stay safe out there, everyone. ❤️

09/09/2026

Word on the street is that Java Kai Koloa is handing out free coffee for the next hour!

09/06/2026

HEY PEEPS 👋🏽 WE’RE HIRING!!

Our Koloa location is looking for a DISHWASHER 🫧🍽️

Chef ANT is begging at this point to get out of the dish pit 👉👈

Come join a great crew, eat great food, and work in an even better environment. If you’re hardworking, reliable, and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, we want YOU!!

📍 Java Kai Koloa
DM us or stop by to apply!

09/06/2026

09/05/2026

The cranberry scone is SO back 👀

09/03/2026

This Sunday is the Kauai Marathon! Flash us your race bib + we’ll get you a FREE nitro or cold brew coffee at our Kōloa shop ⚡️⚡️⚡️

Good luck to all you crazy runners! And remember: it’s not about winning… it’s about the fit 💅 Don’t forget to stretch + hydrate + of course get your caffeine!

Kauai Marathon/Half Marathon 🌈🌈🌈