I would like for you to meet orchid pioneer, educator, visionary, and our dear friend, Mr. Tom Kadooka. Orchids were Tom Kadooka’s life's work.
"Tom played a major role in the research and development of the Hawaiian Vanilla Company", said Jim Reddekopp. "Without Tom Kadooka's knowledge and a lot of prayers, I would have never been able to bring this dream forward."

Tom Kadooka passed away in October of 2004 and left a legacy through his incredible knowledge and incredible spirit, which the Hawaiian Vanilla Company hopes to continue to share with all of its guests.

Tom's father said, "You are crazy, nobody can make a living growing flowers." Yet, Tom decided to pursue his dream and began a lonely profession.

"Everyone grew coffee in Kona, the school year for the children was scheduled around the coffee-growing season," explained Tom. "When the coffee cherries were ready to be harvested there was no school and depending on the weather the night before you sometimes had to pick a 100-pound bag before the school bell rang!"

"I figured Kona has coffee and mac nuts; I'd try vanilla. Vanilla would be a non-perishable product that would last for 20 to 30 years."

By Kadooka’s calculations five acres of coffee equal about $15,000 as a crop: vanilla could produce the same cash value using only a quarter acre.
"It’s also a crop that coffee farmers can deal with: vanilla requires intensive labor for pollinating during April to May, a time when coffee cherries are forming so there is less labor intensity on a coffee farm."

Kadooka had been growing and cross breeding vanilla orchids for years when Jim met him. Tom taught Jim how to do the serious work of pollination, which is essential for the creation of vanilla pods.
Tom even developed a system for drying the pods, a critical step in vanilla production for the Hawaiian Vanilla Company.

Kadooka and Reddekopp dreamed of Hawaii developing a reputation for producing such incredible vanilla, that it rivaled places like Madagascar. Tom even sent Hawaiian Vanilla beans to a laboratory in Japan which confirmed their very high vanillan content and corresponding, terrific flavor.

The Hawaiian Vanilla Company continues to pass on Tom's knowledge through a Power Point presentation CD which includes a video clip on hand pollination.
All of the proceeds from the sale of the CD support the Tom Kadooka Memorial Scholarship, established with the University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture.
"This is the way that we can develop sustainable agriculture along this coast," said Jim Reddekopp. "And we'll be able to honor Tom's legacy for generations to come."

Jim also provides one-on-one consultations for people interested in starting their own vanilla farms.
Please call the Hawaiian Vanilla Company for costs and availability.