Kalaheo, Hawaii – Kauai Coffee Company plans to close Kalaheo operations, eliminating 136 jobs by early May.
According to a March 5 additional WARN notice issued to state officials and workers, Kauai Coffee Company LLC (KCC) will permanently shut down its coffee farm operations in Kalaheo. The company expects layoffs affecting 136 employees between April 18 and May 2, 2026.
The notice states the layoffs were originally scheduled for March 14 through March 28, but the timeline was delayed while the company attempted to negotiate a new lease agreement with its landlord for the coffee farm.
“Although those negotiations remain ongoing, we believe sufficient progress has now been made to allow us to delay the contemplated closure of the business and termination of employees,” the notice states.
Company representatives said the additional notice supplements an original WARN notification issued Jan. 12, 2026, which first informed employees of the potential closure.
According to the filing, all other provisions of the original notice remain unchanged.
The company also stated it does not believe the Hawaii Dislocated Workers Act formally applies because the closure is considered an involuntary landlord-related situation. However, the additional notice was still issued as a precautionary measure under the state law.
Kauai Coffee operates one of the largest coffee plantations in the United States and has long been a significant agricultural employer on the island.
The layoffs could affect workers across farm operations, processing, and support roles in the Kalaheo area.
For younger workers and students on Kauai, the closure may also reduce seasonal and entry-level employment opportunities tied to the plantation.
The company did not provide additional details about future plans for the property or whether negotiations for a lease could still change the outcome.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
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