Coffee. Connection. Come On In!

By Danine Alati | Photos by Sen Creative
Jen Mac Beth as on-site stylist and Creative Woodworking as the builder

Everyone’s got their favorite coffee shop, right? A decade ago mine was The Coffee Project, a brand-new little spot on my street in the East Village, launched by two young women—one of whom is a straight-up coffee sommelier. Now, I’m loyal to Volare Espresso Bar, owned by Italian-born Jenny and her husband Sean. It’s a block away from my apartment in Park Slope, and their backyard is my favorite place to work.

Point is … People are very particular about their coffee and loyal to their cafés. Interior designer Christina Higham of Sun Soul Style Interiors is no different. Java Kai in Kauai has been her coffee spot of choice since before she even moved to Hawaii.

“It was literally our first stop after landing at the airport,” recalls Christina, who’s thrilled to add the design of the newest Java Kai location to her portfolio. “Back then, I could have never imagined this. To go from being a visiting fan to shaping its third home in a historic town is surreal!”

Java Kai owners Xochitl and Sean Garcia found the perfect location in historic Koloa Town beneath a massive banyan tree. This former Koloa History Center is a designated historic building, so architect of record Noho Workshop collaborated with Christina’s team to preserve its character while making essential updates.

A true open-air structure, the original building didn’t even have doors! “The clients explicitly wanted to keep that breezy, indoor-outdoor connection to the streetscape and the banyan tree,” Christina says. But the building itself wasn't watertight, so a functional renovation was a must.

Noho Workshop redesigned the facade with large garage-style doors that open in nice weather and double as protective awnings during Kauai's sudden rain showers.

For the interiors, Christina took cues from the clients’ recent trip to the French Riviera. “They came back deeply inspired by the coastal European aesthetic—the crisp tones, the sun-drenched textures, and that effortless Mediterranean warmth,” she says. “Our challenge was to translate that inspiration so it felt organically rooted in local culture and the architectural history of Hawaii.”

That blend comes through in decorative breeze blocks from Concrete Collaborative cladding the front of the bar, paired with custom bright yellow terrazzo countertops that match the café umbrellas outside.

“Breeze blocks carry immense historical weight in local design,” Christina explains, noting they became widespread across Hawaii during the building boom of the 1960s and ’70s. “It's a material that is deeply recognizable, nostalgic, and approachable to locals.”

The sunny yellow palette echoes both the Riviera and Kauai. “It serves as a bright, joyful landmark of sorts, instantly catching your eye and welcoming you in as you drive through old Koloa Town,” she says.

The owners wanted to create more than just a coffee shop. They wanted a community gathering place. The open-air lanai and long, communal banquette bench encourage people to linger and strike up conversations, while the courtyard welcomes local musicians, DJs, and pop-up events.

“Java Kai isn't just a place to grab a morning drink,” Christina says. “It functions as the social heart of the old Koloa Town courtyard.”

She adds, “Seeing a space you created become a bustling, beloved part of people's daily routines is the ultimate reward.”⬥