Coffee culture

Coffee Leaf Rust Hawaii Coffee Association Annual Meeting to Address Coffee Leaf Rust Issue

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). After experiencing a dual blow of human and plant diseases over the past year, the Hawaii Coffee Association is preparing to host its 2021 online conference and cupping competition. The online conference and the 12th Hawaii Coffee

Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style).

Hawaii Coffee Association to Host 2021 Online Conference and Cupping Competition

After enduring a year of dual challenges from both human and plant diseases, the Hawaii Coffee Association is preparing to host its 2021 online conference and cupping competition.

Hawaii Coffee Association Conference

The online conference will run concurrently with the 12th Annual Hawaii Coffee Cupping Competition Finals, taking place over two days from June 24th to June 25th. This includes an awards ceremony scheduled for 5:00 PM on June 25th.

This online conference is free of charge for both Hawaii Coffee Association members and non-members. The deadline for cupping competition registration is May 21st.

Hawaii Coffee Association Event Details

Battling Dual Health Crises

Over the past year, Hawaii has maintained a vocal stance regarding global pandemic issues, contributing to efforts in slowing both the spread of COVID-19 among humans and the progression of coffee leaf rust in plants.

One of the well-known pathogens causing coffee leaf rust, Hemileia vastatrix, first came to human attention in the 1860s in East Africa and Sri Lanka. Since then, this disease has spread to coffee growing regions worldwide. Coffee leaf rust is highly transmissible and its destructive nature can devastate coffee crops.

Coffee Leaf Rust Disease

Around 2012, small-scale coffee farmers in parts of South America, Central America, and Mexico began noticing the appearance of coffee leaf rust, and these regions continue to suffer from its rapid spread to this day. The disease was first detected in Hawaii in October 2020 in the Haiku area of Maui. Two weeks later, the coffee crop killer—the strain causing leaf rust—was discovered on the Big Island.

Coffee Leaf Rust Impact

"2020 was a year when both the novel coronavirus and coffee leaf rust ran rampant, and we are confident in our ability to resolve these multiple crises in 2021," said Chris Manfredi, president of the Hawaii Coffee Association, at a recent press conference for the 2021 online event.

Conference Highlights

During this 2021 event, Emilio Lopez Diaz, a pioneer in the specialty coffee industry, will deliver a keynote presentation titled "Living with Coffee Leaf Rust."

The following is the agenda for the online conference hosted by the Hawaii Coffee Association:

Hawaii Coffee Association Conference Schedule

Thursday, June 24th

  • 8:00-8:30 AM: Welcome address by Chris Manfredi, President of Hawaii Coffee Association
  • 8:45-10:15 AM: Keynote Presentation: Living with Coffee Leaf Rust
  • 10:45-11:30 AM: Updates from Hawaii Department of Agriculture
  • 11:45 AM-12:30 PM: Updates from University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

Friday, June 25th

  • 9:00-10:00 AM: Updates from USDA/Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center
  • 10:15-11:15 AM: Updates from Hawaii Agriculture Research Center and Hawaii Coffee Growers Association
  • 11:30 AM-12:15 PM: Social Media Marketing Tips - Selected Marketing Group
  • 12:45-1:30 PM: Learn More: Hawaii Coffee Association Selection
  • 1:45 PM: Hawaii Coffee Association Board Election Results
  • 5:00 PM: Hawaii Coffee Association Cupping Competition Awards Ceremony

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