By Kai Ioh | July 2025
If you’ve been wondering why there’s been no mention of lychee this year… you’re not the only one.
Every summer, Jason Farm’s lychee trees are so heavy with fruit it’s almost comical—branches sagging under the weight, baskets overflowing. But this year? Almost nothing. Just a few lonely clusters here and there. It was almost eerie how quiet it was.
We were lucky to get just enough for our own family, but when I stopped by the farm recently, I was genuinely shocked. The same trees that usually go wild… completely still.
That said, Islander Sake didn’t give up. This year’s lychee sake is made with fruit from the Hilo side. It’s gorgeous—soft pink, fragrant, and just sweet enough. If you’re near Hapuna, I highly recommend stopping by Islander Sake Brewery for a taste. Look at the nice Lychee color.
And if you want a throwback: here’s my Japanese lychee blog from 2021.