Once Shelly joined us, we started our more unusual tours. We visited the Kona Salt Farm, which harvests its 900 year old sea salt from 2,200 feet (671 meters) below the ocean’s surface. You can see some of the evaporation process in the photos below. They claim this deep water extraction makes the highest quality finishing salts. We had to purchase a few of the flavored salts!
Rachelle, Stephanie and Joy at the beach in front of the Salt Farm.
The Salt Farm sends the seawater through a 1-micron filter to remove particles, algae and bacteria.
After filtering, the salty water goes through a solar evaporation system. This dries out the salt naturally — no electricity required! It takes about four weeks for the salt to dry.
The Salt Farm has a lovely gift shop with great products available.
Kona Salt Farm has a serious commitment to sustainability. They use solar panels to generate electricity, constantly look for ways to reduce waste in their packaging, and donate 1% of their proceeds to a local nonprofit focused on protecting the sensitive wildlife and critical habitats of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument from the threats of marine debris. They also provide in-kind support to the Akako‘a Coral Reef Restoration Program by providing space at the salt farm for dry lab, office, and boat parking.
The Kona Salt Farm is located at 73-907 Makako Bay Drive in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is open daily from 9am-4pm. Their standard one-hour tour is $20.00.