(WCMH) — For many people in the mainland U.S., Hawaii is a place we dream of.

That’s why Kona coffee and Hawaiian sweet rolls are so popular: they take us there.

Fans of the Aloha State know that the next best thing to being there is to enjoy some Kings Hawaiian Rolls and wash them down with a big cup of Hawaiian Kona coffee.

But sorry to shatter that tropical dream: that treat may not have come from Hawaii at all.

A new report in the consumer site Mouseprint.org points to a lawsuit filed against the makers of Kings Hawaiian Rolls.

While the package says Hilo, Hawaii on the front, the suit says the bakery is really located in Torrance California, hardly a tropical paradise.

Hilo is where they were first baked several generations ago, with fresh Hawaiian pineapple and honey, it says.

However, Mouseprint points out that the package never claims the rolls were actually made in Hawaii, So there may not be a case for false advertising.

But from the “doesn’t that stink” file, coffee blends imply they came from Hawaii when they did not.

Hawaii’s Truth in Labeling law requires Kona coffee to be Hawaiian grown.

But the state’s coffee trade group warns that some Kona blends masquerade as the real thing, when they are not really from the island and are just 10 percent Kona.

That stinks.

Want Kona coffee? Look for a label that says 100 percent pure Kona.

And if you want fresh rolls made with pure Hawaiian pineapple, consider an island vacation.

So before you pay a premium for something Hawaiian… Check the label, so you don’t waste your money.

“Don’t Waste Your Money” is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. (“Scripps”).
Like John Matarese Money on Facebook
Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney
Follow John on Twitter (@JohnMatarese)
For more consumer news and money-saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com