HILO >> A Big Island cooperative is hoping to establish a specialty tea industry in Hawaii.

The Hawaii Medicinal Tea and Herb Cooperative is seeking up to $500,000 in investments for a 5-acre tea plot in Mountain View. The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports the cooperative hopes to cultivate 100 acres of tea in 10 years.

The cooperative on Thursday showed investors tea growing at Akatsuka Orchid Gardens. Tea industry consultant Nigel Melican says a 3.5-acre field planted in July is maturing faster than he could believe. He is confident the price of Hawaii-­grown tea would easily top $100 per pound.

Visiting New York tea producer Jeni Dodd says some of her preferred teas are those raised on rocky soils.