HONOLULU (HI Now) - Volcano Wasabi is all about our love of two things. Real wasabi and the beautiful Hawaiian Islands.
After retiring to Maui, Jon, an avid sashimi consumer, craved the authentic taste of wasabi he enjoyed in Japan. However, he soon discovered the difficulty of finding locally grown, real wasabi in Hawai’i. Disappointed with the reliance on substitutes – western horseradish-based paste or powder products – he explored growing wasabi on his Maui property, only to find the climate unsuitable. In 2021, he acquired our current farm site in Mountain View, nestled just off the Volcano Highway on the Big Island.
Upon purchasing the Big Island site, Jon initiated the construction of what is now the Volcano Wasabi farm, as Tiffany began global market research on the wasabi market. Drawing upon their understanding of, and connection to, Japan, they deepened their knowledge of the nuances of authentic wasabi cultivation, refining their approach as they developed a plan for the Volcano Wasabi business. Through this effort they made a connection with Japanese wasabi company Kinjirushi which has assisted in our technical understanding of how to grow great wasabi.
In early 2023 Jon met Olaf via a mutual friend. After several discussions, Olaf agreed to join our mission to grow great wasabi in Hawai’i. Olaf’s original interest in agriculture was sparked while attending the charter school West Hawai’i Explorations Academy located at Kailua Kona’s OTEC facilities. Becoming a pioneer in cultivating wasabi in Hawai’i was a natural extension of his agricultural explorations. Since joining Volcano Wasabi, Olaf has been instrumental in growing our plants from conception to edible excellence.
Also early in 2023, Jon was introduced to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (UH CTAHR). By spring of the same year, UH CTAHR began leasing a greenhouse to Volcano Wasabi at their experimental growing station in Volcano, where early cultivation efforts were initiated. We are deeply thankful to UH CTAHR and continue collaborating with their team on experimental techniques aimed at optimizing agricultural efficiency.
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Our mission is, and will always be, growing great wasabi in Hawai’i.
For more information, visit volcanowasabi.com and on Instagram @volcanowasabi
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