In short: Johnny's Garden is a tea grower in Big Island, Hawaii, United States, according to Tea Hawaii: John Cross, Ke Ola Magazine: Hawaii Island tea and Big Island Now: Tea Hawaii & Co.
Johnny's Garden grows tea in Big Island, Hawaii, United States at about 72 m above sea level. The details on this page come from the grower's own published information and public sources (Tea Hawaii: John Cross, Ke Ola Magazine: Hawaii Island tea and Big Island Now: Tea Hawaii & Co); the map pin marks the locality (Hakalau, Hamakua coast) rather than the estate itself.
What the Published Sources Say
- Tea Hawaii says Johnny's Garden was established in 1993 in Hakalau, on the eastern slopes of Mauna Kea beside Kaahakini Stream.
- Tea Hawaii says John and Kathryn Cross, with their children, bought the land from the sugarcane company.
- Tea Hawaii says it is the oldest tea garden in commercial production in Hawaii.
- Ke Ola Magazine says John Cross, a former C. Brewer land manager, planted tea on his family farm in Hakalau in 1993.
- Big Island Now (August 2025) says Tea Hawaii & Company collaborates with John Cross to process his tea.
Sources: Tea Hawaii: John Cross, Ke Ola Magazine: Hawaii Island tea, Big Island Now: Tea Hawaii & Co. TeaTrade has not tested or tasted this grower's tea; these are the grower's and publishers' own statements.
Terroir & Climate
Tea in Hawaii is grown by a small number of farms, most of them on the volcanic slopes of the Big Island and a few on Maui. Because the islands rise from sea level to high volcanic uplands, conditions can differ sharply between nearby farms, and the mild climate generally allows a longer growing season than on the mainland.
The live forecast below tracks the current weather at the area's coordinates.
Tea Produced
Johnny's Garden is described as making black tea.
Operator
The business behind the estate is given as John and Kathryn Cross.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Johnny\u0027s Garden is in Big Island, Hawaii, United States; the map pin (19.90, -155.13) is approximate and marks the locality. Its 72 m elevation is the 6th highest of 7 estates we map in Big Island. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from this approximate pin, are:
- Ancient Leaf Tea — 13 km away
- Big Island Tea — 39 km away
- Mauna Kea Tea — 40 km away
- Second Alarm Farm — 53 km away
- Tea Hawaii \u0026 Company — 53 km away
Johnny\u0027s Garden Compared with Big Island
In Big Island, Johnny\u0027s Garden is wetter than 67% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 83% of the others by elevation; warmer than 83% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Johnny\u0027s Garden against the 6 other estates we map in Big Island, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Johnny\u0027s Garden | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 72 m | 797 m | 12 to 1,134 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,219 mm | 874 mm | 426 to 1,436 mm |
| Mean daily high | 25.7 °C | 22.7 °C | 21.1 to 26.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 20.2 °C | 14.8 °C | 13.3 to 19.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Johnny\u0027s Garden (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Johnny\u0027s Garden’s coordinates recorded 1,219 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (240 mm) and the driest was April (49 mm). Daytime highs averaged 25.7 °C and overnight lows 20.2 °C over the year; September was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,219 mm |
| Wettest month | November (240 mm) |
| Driest month | April (49 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 25.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 20.2 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Johnny\u0027s Garden located?
Johnny\u0027s Garden is in Big Island, Hawaii, United States. The map pin (19.90, -155.13) is approximate and marks the locality rather than the estate, at an elevation of about 72 metres.
Who operates Johnny\u0027s Garden?
Johnny\u0027s Garden is operated by John and Kathryn Cross, according to the grower's published information.
What type of tea does Johnny\u0027s Garden produce?
Johnny\u0027s Garden is recorded as producing black tea.
How much rain does Johnny\u0027s Garden receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,219 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (240 mm).
Data sources: the grower’s own published information and public sources (Tea Hawaii: John Cross, Ke Ola Magazine: Hawaii Island tea, Big Island Now: Tea Hawaii & Co); climate figures are ERA5 reanalysis modelled for the area’s coordinates via Open-Meteo (calendar year 2025); the map pin is rounded to about 1 km and marks the locality, not the estate; elevation is a terrain-model value for that point. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].
