In short: Second Alarm Farm is a tea grower in Big Island, Hawaii, United States, according to Tealet: Second Alarm Farm, Tea Journey: hobbyists building a tea industry and Volcano Visitor Center: business directory.
Second Alarm Farm grows tea in Big Island, Hawaii, United States at about 1134 m above sea level. The details on this page come from the grower's own published information and public sources (Tealet: Second Alarm Farm, Tea Journey: hobbyists building a tea industry and Volcano Visitor Center: business directory); the map pin marks the locality (Volcano Village) rather than the estate itself.
What the Published Sources Say
- Tealet says Second Alarm Farm is a small 3-acre farm that grows tea along with coffee and ornamental orchids.
- Tealet says the tea is harvested and crafted completely by hand in batches of a pound or less, grown naturally (organic but not certified) at 868 m (2,850 ft).
- Tealet says it won third place in the non-commercial oolong category at the first TOTUS tea competition in 2015, and lists Orchid Isle Oolong as its signature tea.
- Tea Journey says Jim Chestnut got his first tea plant in 2010 and has about 1,000 harvestable tea plants inter-planted in his coffee fields.
- The Volcano Visitor Center directory lists green and oolong tea sold by the ounce and by the pound, with visitors welcome by appointment.
Sources: Tealet: Second Alarm Farm, Tea Journey: hobbyists building a tea industry, Volcano Visitor Center: business directory. 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
Second Alarm Farm is described as making oolong and green tea.
Operator
The business behind the estate is given as Jim Chestnut and Edna Arakawa.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Second Alarm Farm is in Big Island, Hawaii, United States; the map pin (19.43, -155.23) is approximate and marks the locality. Its 1134 m elevation is the joint 1st 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:
- Tea Hawaii \u0026 Company — under 1 km away
- Volcano Winery Tea Garden — under 1 km away
- Big Island Tea — 18 km away
- Ancient Leaf Tea — 43 km away
- Johnny\u0027s Garden — 53 km away
Second Alarm Farm Compared with Big Island
In Big Island, Second Alarm Farm is drier than 83% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 67% of the others by elevation; the coolest of the 7 estates by daytime temperature. The table sets Second Alarm Farm 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 | Second Alarm Farm | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,134 m | 376 m | 12 to 1,134 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 874 mm | 1,046 mm | 426 to 1,436 mm |
| Mean daily high | 21.1 °C | 24.7 °C | 21.1 to 26.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 13.3 °C | 17.6 °C | 13.3 to 20.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Second Alarm Farm (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Second Alarm Farm’s coordinates recorded 874 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (109 mm) and the driest was February (34 mm). Daytime highs averaged 21.1 °C and overnight lows 13.3 °C over the year; August was the warmest month and March the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 874 mm |
| Wettest month | November (109 mm) |
| Driest month | February (34 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 21.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 13.3 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Second Alarm Farm located?
Second Alarm Farm is in Big Island, Hawaii, United States. The map pin (19.43, -155.23) is approximate and marks the locality rather than the estate, at an elevation of about 1134 metres.
Who operates Second Alarm Farm?
Second Alarm Farm is operated by Jim Chestnut and Edna Arakawa, according to the grower's published information.
What type of tea does Second Alarm Farm produce?
Second Alarm Farm is recorded as producing oolong and green tea.
How much rain does Second Alarm Farm receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 874 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (109 mm).
Data sources: the grower’s own published information and public sources (Tealet: Second Alarm Farm, Tea Journey: hobbyists building a tea industry, Volcano Visitor Center: business directory); 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].
