Misma Lani’s Origin Story

We wanted to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you for following our journey thus far! 

As we near our second year in retail, I would like to share our story and how Misma Lani came to be.

After moving permanently to the Big Island in the 90’s, my father Andres Magaña became the farm manager for a coffee plantation in South Kona. After working there for over a decade, the company transferred ownership and when he failed to provide documentation of legal status, he was let go.

That was the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey. Unemployed, he set out to renovate a non-operational mill with the dream of processing coffee on his own. And so, he and his crew set out to work. Through the turmoil and uncertainty, they managed to build a thriving business.

Eight years in, on July 8th 2017, my father was deported and had to leave his home on the Big Island to return to Michoacán, Mexico.⁠ He was forced to leave his hard work here.

I, on the other hand grew up here in the U.S, on the island of Hawai’i amidst the coffee fields. Raised first-generation immigrant, my father was the voice that pushed me to dream bigger, to dream of an education, of a career… of success. One thing was for sure, I did not dream of working in coffee agriculture.

My father’s deportation sparked the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey but I struggled. I struggled to work in a place that reminded me constantly of the pain my family had experienced. I felt broken and for years I ran the business like this - never aspiring for more, never daring to dream further.

Until one day, I realized I could not go on like this. I decided to face the reality of the plight of my community. Living in the shadows was something my parents had to do to survive but I did not. I had a voice and so Misma Lani Farms was born.

Misma Lani’s purpose is to exemplify that Latinos are capable of triumph despite the obstacles. As the backbone of agricultural America, we rarely see those faces on the retail end of products - taking ownership of their labor. Misma Lani aims to inspire you to chase your dreams despite the obstacles ahead.

Our Misma Lani family thanks you for your support & hopes you enjoy our 100% Kona Coffee tended here on the slopes of the Big Island, Hawai’i.