Bigger of an operation now compared to back when I was growing up in Hilo. But they have always kept the fact that you can walk in and see the workers hand dipping cookies and whatnot. They've not changed much besides having newer items here and there. They've classic chocolate dipped shortbread cookies are always a winner. Best part about visiting is that you get samples of their products if you just ask kindly! The staff are always so friendly and helpful. I wish they would bring back the Peanut Butter Crunch Bars! read more

Make sure to check this place out if you're in the area! We stopped by around 8:30 AM and honestly weren't even sure it was open at first--the building looks pretty dark from the outside because of the tint. But as soon as we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the wonderful staff, and the whole vibe completely changed. Inside, the space is bright, inviting, and thoughtfully set up. We were offered samples of their Kona coffee along with a couple of treats of the day, which was such a nice touch. As you walk around, you can actually watch them making their delicious goodies, which makes the experience even more fun and tempting. The shop was beautifully decorated for the upcoming Easter holiday, and they also had some really lovely gift boxes--perfect if you're looking to bring something home for family or friends. There's also a small area where you can grab drinks (and possibly ice cream too). I ordered a green tea latte, and it was absolutely wonderful. Overall, such a cozy, welcoming spot with great treats and friendly service. Definitely worth stopping by--whether you're craving something sweet or looking to pick up a thoughtful gift! read more

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Everything here is amazing! Love that they give samples (cookies/chocolate/coffee). Customer service is always great, employees very helpful and kind. Store is clean and organized. read more

Big Island Candies - Candy Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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What a great treat no pun intended... We stopped here at this big island candy store and it's also a candy factory. The owner graduated from the local Hilo high school and so enjoyed that fun fact. It's very clean very modern. Very very nice. Great presentation great food. We have with samples when we entered and they were very friendly and we purchased some product to take with us and we are looking forward to our day on the big island. read more

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I could come here every day to get a chocolate and shortbread sample. The woman greeting me both times I came in was so sweet (she was holding the door for people) and pointed me towards free coffee samples. Would recommend overall! read more

I was quite impressed with the operation they have going at Big Island Candies. This place is incredible! They offer a large variety of candies that are made right there in the store. You can watch the hard workers diligently making fresh and delicious candies! The store is full of different types of candies wrapped nicely that make the perfect gift. read more

Big Island Candies - Candy Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Big Island Candies has cornered the market on shortbreads and chocolate candies produced in Hilo. I was brought here as part of a bus tour and while I wouldn't have stopped here on my own, I'm glad that we did... as you walk in the door, a greeter offers you a little cup of samples. Today we had shortbread and Mac nut brittle. Both were very tasty. Fresh coffee is also sampled... the Kona coffee was great! This shop has tons of offerings from various kinds of shortbreads to all types of chocolate covered macadamia nuts. The items are packaged nicely and many are perfect for gift giving. There's also a large viewing window where you can see the candies being produced & the atmosphere inside was bustling and efficient. I walked out with four little gift boxes and I'm happy that I have some treats for peeps back home. (All sales are final.) Many buses are brought here, so as someone visiting, it does feel a little forced, but it worked out nevertheless. Plenty of car & bus parking. Mahalo. read more

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I am glad Big Island Candies is not located in Kona. If it was, I would be broke and fat. I am obsessed with the dark chocolate macadamia nut rocky road. I stop here to buy it every time I am in Hilo. I also like the dark chocolate macadamia shortbread cookies. This is a great store to buy gifts. They always have cute seasonal gift boxes with a combination of their sweets. I sometimes get these for friends and flight attendants when I travel back to main land. And everyone always loves them. If you are local or visit the island often, make sure to get a punch card. You get discounts on your purchases when you shop. read more

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FPO and I were on the Big Island for a staycation and went to Big Island Candies. They have samples as soon as you walk in. The people are really friendly and welcoming. Behind a huge bank of windows you can see the people hand dipping the cookies. It was interesting and fun. read more

A must visit if you are in Hilo. Samples when you first walk in were good. The staff is very helpful and there are plenty of goodies to choose from. read more

Looking for a special gift while visiting Hilo and or you have a sweet tooth this is the best place to explore. Not only will you get to taste some local creations, but some souvenirs, but the large windows inside are perfect viewing spots to see where the magic happens. The parking lot was large which was nice. As you arrive you're greeted with samples. I tried the chocolate dipped potato chips. For me it was a perfect blend of salty and sweet. The front entrance table had a gorgeous centerpiece and each station was color coordinated, labeled and separated for any occasion. The decorate boxes are sure to wow anyone. The staff was so sweet like candy factory they worked. It was a great quick stop on the tourist list. read more

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What a great place. It was a trek from Kona to Hilo but it was well worth it. There was plenty of parking and they had a security guard. We were greeted with a sample and some coffee. The workers were friendly and attentive. The smell of chocolate permeated this place. If you like candy, you'll be like a kid in a toy store. Though pricy, it was well worked it. I can't even begin to articulate what they have so visit their website so you can look through the products If you visit the Big Island, this place is a must. read more

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Hilo, home to one of my favorite Yelpers AND this tourist shop of super flavor chocolate macadamia nut candy and Kona coffee!! Lots of taste testing/samples for the tourists as the buses pull in. The sales staff is eager to help you find things you didn't know you would want more of! Seriously, they have some great items that promise to make you need larger clothes! The decor is nothing special and doesn't detract from the items inside. Also inside is a candy factory which is really cool to watch production! read more

Beautiful new showroom. Selection enormous and service helpful and friendly. Lots of free samples of cookies, candies and coffee! You can view the process of making the delicious goodies. These beautifully packaged items make great Omiyage (gifts) for friends and family. Highly recommend you visit! read more

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Are you planning on bringing something back home? This is the place to get it. A variety of selection from matcha to almond covered shortbread... This is actually better said with pictures. Upon entering you're greeted with the days sample and a sample cup of coffee. The staff is very friendly and if you spend a certain amount you get a free bad to take your loot home. We always come back when we are in Kona read more

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FOOD: The cookies and chocolates here are soooo good!! When you walk in the door, you are greeted with a smile and a sample of chocolate and cookie. Then you can walk over and get a sample of coffee to wash it down! It was so good! SERVICE: The service here was wonderful! Everyone we encountered was so nice and friendly and greeted us with a smile. DECOR/AMBIANCE: Such great decor and vibes. There are plants around so very naturey (Is that a word?). This store is also huge and so much to go around and see. Definitely recommend to visit if you are in Hilo! read more

Big Island Candies - Decor - Candy Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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The name of this store says candy- but it's mainly cookies and brownies. Delicious ones at that!!! You can stop here for all your Hawai'i gifts to bring back k home. Shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate. Ice cream. If you time it right , you can watch the assembly line. Looks straight out of an episode of I love Lucy!! read more

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Big Island candies deserves 5 stars but my last meeting was simply depressing. Gone are the spicy chili cookies, gone are the incredible Wafer Bark that I have purchased over the years. It was my single greatest item I loved at this place. I've given them away, eaten lots of them, always told people about it. I have not met one person that didn't like them. Imagine my surprise when I heard the Wafter Bark is GONE! Just canceled out of existence. NO!!!!!! Don't forget your roots. Don't forget what made you famous. Dipped shortbread is all over the place.... but no one ever had the Wafer Bark. Lots of things are gone in Hilo now. I never thought Big Island Candies would get rid of one of their most popular items. Even the workers seemed bummed out that it was gone. They said write corporate. I did. I hope they change their mind and regain their 5 stars. read more

We recently traveled to Hawaiʻi Island for work and visited Big Island Candies and, the location is wonderful! Great customer service, convenient hours, and plenty of parking. It's easy to get to, and the samples are amazing. Many items are also sold on Oʻahu, but if you ask, the staff will gladly point out what's exclusive to the Hawaiʻi Island location. read more

Right when you enter, there are employees greeting you and offering samples of cookies, candy, or coffee. They are very helpful, which I appreciate. So many goodies to choose from all displayed well. read more

Walked thru while waiting for lunch. Appreciated the samples of coffee, chocolate and shortbread. Large selection of short bread, including some dipped in chocolate, chocolate candies (with sugar free options!), coffee bean/ and more. Great place to get gifts - I got a small box of 9 shortbread cookies for $11. read more

Friendly storefront with free samples on arrival. We received a shortbread cookie and brownie sample plus a sample of coffee. You can see the ladies standing behind the windowed factory area hand dipping the cookies into the chocolate. The store was clean, organized, and decorated nicely for the holidays. I liked how sometimes they showed an open sealed box - so you could actually see what was inside each box. We bought 4 or 5 boxes of treats to share with our friends back home. They give you a punch card and for every $100 spent, you can get $5 off your next order. You need it, because their items are pricey! read more

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I have been here before years ago, they used to have to factory windows open and you could see the workers hand dipping the chocolate cookies. Oh well they have it covered up now. We still went and bought a ton of snacks and cookies, they give you free samples when you walk in and they have coffee to purchase on the side. The store is very well stocked and they have staff to help and answer questions.The store is very inviting and easy to navigate around.Check this place out and happy eating!!! read more

My all time favorite cookies. Great for omayagi gifts or a thanks for a job well done. If they're in your cupboard, they won't be there for long! Customer service is always excellent and no need to search for parking read more

I got there just before closing and I was given several samples and a taste of coffee. Workers were friendly and helpful. I walked out with a box of the cookie assortments with taro, lemon, coffee and shortbread cookies. I also got a macadamia chocolate rice crisp candy box read more

Big Island Candies - Shortbread Assortment - Candy Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Food: make sure you do a sugar check after visiting. Lol Nice treats for all...variety of chocolates, short bread, etc. they also have little sweet/salty snack packages. This is the largest sweet treat place in Hilo. Service: everyone was so friendly . Ambiance: spacious...the goodies are displayed well and are easy to pick your treat without knocking anything else over. read more

Big Island Candies - Candy Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

This is probably the best place to stop by to get your sweet chocolate treats for gifts when you go back home. They have a lot of different varieties, from chocolate covered nuts to chocolate dipped cookies, brownies, and coffee. They have a big window where you can watch the factory workers make the sweet treats. The merchandise is a little on the pricey side. Everyone there was very friendly and helpful. They have plenty of parking. read more

Big Island Candies - Candy Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

I have been a fan of Big Island Candies for over 10 years but aside from a shop in Honolulu, it's not something I can pick up on my annual trip to Maui. I have ordered a few times online but after awhile, that shipping cost makes it harder to do often. So, when I decided to spend some time in Hilo, I knew I had to stop by and stock up. It is a popular stop for tour buses so be prepared that you will have lots of company before long. Brownies, shortbread, manju, we got it all with the macadamia brownies my favorite. I got a chance to see the production line at work too including hand dipping those shortbreads, making me appreciate it that much more. Do check what their recommended consume after purchase time is on the back of the box as the manju doesn't last long while the shortbreads have the longest "shelf life". If it was longer, I definitely would've bought even more, but I still walked out of there with $100 worth for ourselves and omiyage for family. Don't sleep on those scoops either, that you will want to enjoy on a hot day. read more

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Staff was super friendly and it was a sight to see the location where it's all made! Got to try 100% Kona Coffee and it perked me right up! They also have a history on some of their confections and all the different flavors to see, would recommend as a place to get gifts for sure! - Miguel Morales Photography read more

Big Island Candies - Cookie Flavors (@miguelmoralesphotography on Instagram) - Candy Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Today's sample shortbread cookie and brownie...sample coffee was promoting 100% Kau coffee which was pretty good. read more

Big Island Candies - View from the parking lot - Candy Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

10/10 whole experience! This store has the factory visible once you walk in so you're able to see how some of these sweet treats are made. The staff also offer samples of cookies or chocolate as well as coffee samples! There are a bunch of different collections varying from cookies, brownies, chocolate dipped, tropical fruit inspired, and other snacks. Some boxes of treats are decorated nicely to where you can give it to someone as a gift as is. Thanks Big Island Candies! read more

Big Island Candies - Candy Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

This was my first visit and a friend recommended it. We loved that you can watch the making of the cookies. The store is big, spacious snd well laid out. Very pretty seasonal decor and beautiful packaging. They are generous with samples of cookies, brownies and coffee. Great gifts and very nice staff. read more

Big Island Candies - Dipping cookies - Candy Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Ever wonder where these amazing cookies are made? This store had all the delicious treats, coffee, and you can even watch the chocolate dipping. The staff were really kind and the store was quite large. It was a nice space to just browse around. It is quite expensive but you are getting high quality treats! read more

Big Island Candies - Dipping chocolates - Candy Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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I'm from Kona Hawaii and bring all my family and friends to Big Island Candy when we're in Hilo ... always great service ,ambiance and helpful staff members ...delicious products and most beautiful presentations ....always love speaking with Nami in the customer service mail order department....thank u miss Nami for your always friendly and helpful service ...kudos to u always Beth from Kona read more

Very nice spot to stop around Hilo on your way back from the volcano. In house made sweets. The chili chocolate toffee was delightful and the dark chocolate dropped biscuits were perfectly crisp and crumbly read more

Big Island Candies - Inside - Candy Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Cookies here are so ono. Very expensive, but worth it I suppose. Service is both friendly and helpful. Not much for ambiance because it's more of a factory and cookie shop rather than sit down dining or read more

First time I remember big island candies is when they was by the old location and by anyway I love the new location where they are at now. And when you enter Big island candies they give you two cookies to sample and I love it and it get very busy when two loads of bus and lots of tourists coming and visiting our islands of Hawaii and it is very sad when our economy went down hill. I miss how it used to be. And service at Big islands candies employees and they are very happy when you walking and I would rating Big Island candies a 100 percents. Aloha everyone for your support of Big Island candies!!! read more

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So, it's touristy, but who cares? The people here have lots of aloha, and the quality of the somewhat pricey products is fantastic. We bought a bag of the mini guava macadamia nut cookies, and they were fabulous. I dare you to each just one--or two--or three. It's fun to peruse the goods after tasting a sample, handed to you when you walk in. They also have 100% Kona coffee to sample (and buy, if you wish). You can indeed watch the whole candy and cookie operation in action through big windows, as everything is made right here. And while the stuff they sell isn't cheap, the snack bar is a relative bargain with a short list of inexpensive eats if you happen to need a quick meal while you're there. Lots of parking available. Won't take more than 20 minutes or so of your time unless you want to eat lunch or linger longer. read more

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Amazing visit... for a simple chocolate factory! Treat upon entering the door? Tiny cup of coffee to balance that out, served with a smile? What is NOT to love? The store is built to be an *experience*! There is beautiful artwork among the candy box displays, which themselves are also works of art. There are giant glass windows where you can see the factory, and if we had come on a working day (it was Sunday), we would have understood what was happening because sections were labeled "dipping", "chocolate", etc. Shiny gold wrappers, different flavors and styles of chocolates, boxes which look like fish! The only thing I don't remember is if they had any music. I read the back-story and in short, it's fascinating, and no wonder that it has become an international stop for many visitors, especially the Japanese apparently, as this store has its focus on "omiyage", the Japanese tradition of gift giving. read more

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We had a lot of fun here. We have a food allergy so we couldn't eat the shortbread but we could eat the ube pie crust manju. So good!!! We also bought palmiers This place has very cool insulated bags for sale which are a great souvenir. They're only 6 dollars! They're bags are perfect for picnics. read more

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