I met Jon when I came to Kona with Pooh to do the Ironman in 1981. Learned he was living in Detroit. Was a jockey at the time and we encouraged Jon to run in our Emily Detroit Runs. Jom would hang out at Emily's  Across the Street. Jon returning to Kona to start farming  and sharing his knowledge of  planting, growing and producing Kona Coffee and most of all create his own brand, 

Jon's Kona Marathon and the spirit behind was inspired by what he learned from what we did in Detroit including the difficult lessons. Joon and his ohana added their aloha to all the he knew he wanted to create and as a result It become one of the most popular events on the Big Island.