Hawaiʻi Coffee Association works on strategic plan, welcomes new executive director

Hawaiʻi Coffee Association board members came together in January for a 3-day strategic planning session led by Lee Safar with Map It Forward.

It was 3 full days of focused work to get clear on where the association is headed and how it will get there as an industry.

“We have a board that is excited, aligned and ready to serve our coffee community,” said Hawaiʻi Coffee Association President Ryson Nakamasu in a recent newsletter. “And as we mapped out all that lies ahead, one thing became increasingly clear. Bringing this plan to life the right way would take dedicated leadership.”

Nakamasu announced the appointment of Abigail Munoz with Monarch Coffee as the association’s new executive director to help drive strategic planning initiatives forward.

Munoz was unanimously elected by the board, “and she was absolutely the right person for this role,” he said.

“Abby brings enthusiasm, passion and real expertise to the table, and we are confident she is exactly who our industry needs as we step into the new era of specialty coffee and the global market,” Nakamasu added.

Munoz said Hawaiʻi coffee is special not just because of where it’s grown, but because of the people behind it — the farmers, families, innovators and volunteers who pour their knowledge, care and dedication into this industry.

She’s had the privilege of working alongside many of them, and she cares deeply about supporting the future of Hawaiʻi’s coffee community.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to step into the role of executive director for the Hawaiʻi Coffee Association,” said Munoz in the newsletter. “This community has been a meaningful part of my life for many years, and the relationships built through [Hawaiʻi Coffee Association] have shaped much of my journey in coffee.”

What excites her the most about her new role is the opportunity to help bring people together and support the work already happening across the state’s coffee industry.

Hawaiʻi Coffee Association has long been a place where farmers, businesses, researchers and partners come together to share ideas, support one another and move Hawaiʻi coffee forward.

“I’m especially excited to continue working together as a community to strengthen the reputation of Hawaiʻi as a world-class coffee origin and to share with the world what many of us already know — that the coffee grown across our islands reflects an extraordinary level of care, craftsmanship and dedication,” Munoz said.

She’s also inspired by the strategic plan the board and members worked so thoughtfully to create, and she looks forward to helping move that vision forward — doing the work to execute it and helping connect the resources that support success throughout the state’s coffee community.

“I’m honored by the trust the board has placed in me and look forward to continuing this work alongside such an incredible community,” Munoz said.