Rob Nunally and Mike Longo started Onomea Tea Company in
2003. This was a second, if not third
career for both of them. Rob and Mike
started Onomea Tea after realizing that their initial crop of choice,
daylilies, would not grow as consistently as needed for cultivation. Considering their options while drinking
tea, they thought – “Why not grow tea?” Having
green thumbs and plenty of available property on Hawaii’s Big Island, they
jumped in. A new career was born.
Before Onomea, Rob lived in California. He attended CA State University and received
a BA in Business with an emphasis in Information System. This was perfect for
Silicon Valley and he started in with a software support job and ultimately his
own technology business. Since most of the technology was sold internationally,
this business could be run from most anywhere.
In 2010 the political climate for the business changed and the business
income dropped substantially, since that time he has been more focused on tea.
Mike was born and raised on the East Coast. He grew up working in his father’s nursery
and garden business and studied Biology and Chemistry at Marquette
University. After teaching high school
biology, Mike’s path led him to the National College of Chiropractic and a
career as a Chiropractic Physician and Natural Health Practitioner. Mike lived in Fiji for a short time and
eventually moved to Hawaii Island in 1977. He began hybridizing daylilies in
the late 80's. In the mid 90's he moved to California and owned a retail
nursery and a daylilies garden. His
interest in daylilies led to the creation of an online auction website for daylilies,
which he still runs.
After a few years in
California Mike began to feel the pull back to Hawaii. He convinced Rob to
accompany him on a trip there. Rob became attached to the big island overnight.
They began to look for a residence there in 1999. In a short time they discovered
available land overlooking Onomea Bay that was breathtaking. They both packed
up and moved to Hawaii in 2000 and began building their house. Their first tea
plants were planted in 2003.
It has only been 10 years, but Rob and Mike are tea
experts. They have certifications galore
and have trained with world renowned authorities. Set on a nine acre plantation above Onomea
Bay, Onomea Tea grows, cultivates, and processes some of the finest tea
available. Impressively, Onomea Tea is
completely organic. As Mike pointed out,
tea isn’t washed before it is processed, so whatever is on when it is picked is
on it when you drink it. Pesticides –
out, sea spray and Hawaiian sunshine – in.
Beautiful.
The tea is picked and processed by hand on site. They have been cultivating new hybrids of
their tea plants after painstakingly selecting the best from their existing
stock. Currently, they produce and sell
white, green, oolong, and black tea. Onomea does not add flavors and uses only
their own crops. Recently, they produced an aged black tea “Koko Ki” that had
subtle hints of cocoa. (Yes – with no
additives or flavorings they brought tea and chocolate together in one luscious
cup.) Unfortunately, the demand is so high that they often sell out
quickly.
This second career seems to be working out quite
nicely.
If you are on the Big Island, contact them for a tour of the
plantation and afternoon tea tasting!
You won’t regret it.
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