We were driving down the road really going nowhere THEN we saw on the map a chocolate tasting site. We had to go..... It was great. The young lady that helped us was very knowledgeable and we tasted some great chocolate. Sad that we did not get to chat with the owner. read more

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Suggestion: Read their website about the farm, watch the virtual tour, and call to do the $20 per person chocolate tasting (10 flavors according to their sign). You'll come about feeling just as informed, you'll get to see the farm, get the cool tasting experience, and save $40 per adult. Disappointed and NOT WORTH $60 per adult or $30 per child for tour & tasting. For that price I expected a vehicle ride around the whole farm (thought to be 100+ acres in size based on tour listing of items grown on farm), viewing all the products they grow on the farm that's mentioned on their tour page, walking through the chocolate making process area, and enjoy the chocolate tasting. Their descriptions are well word-smithed that if you don't re-read it a few times, it's easy to misinterpret what's being stated because of how it's being presented/stated. (Great Marketing Skills!) Quick 2-hour Tour Summary: Sales pitch to grow cocoa, we're starting a farm cooperative, why quality chocolate is expensive, why cheap chocolate might become expensive, why our chocolate is better/best and worth the prices we charge you to buy it, and we don't pay for marketing because people pay us $60 per adult to verbally market directly to them. Longer 2-hour Tour Summary: 1) Walk from car to entrance fence post. Owner tells you a little more history than is already on their website while standing next to/leaning against post, plus some info about global cocoa farms. 2) Walk 25 feet to young cocoa trees, owner talks a little about growing/protection process. Walk another 25 feet to mature cocoa trees, owner talks about identifying unripe, ripening, and ripe cocoa pods, harvesting process, fermentation process, cocoa contests, the cocoa farmers cooperative they are building, and the awards they've won (locally & globally). Big name brands selling cheap chocolate exploits child labor and under paying adult farm labor in poor countries to acquire cheap, poor quality cocoa they sell to the masses. 3) Walk out of cocoa tree farm area, across parking lot, down driveway, and then up a short steep-ish hill to the tasting tables and chocolate shop. Here you are provided a pitcher of water, pitcher of cocoa tea, and a tasting plate of 9 (8 dark + 1 milk) chocolate buttons. (Cocoa tea is a neat thing to taste.) 4) Owner shows pictures of the cocoa harvesting process while describing in more detail, shows samples of the cocoa at the different processing stages (roasted bean, nibs, cocoa butter, and sugar they add to their chocolate), describes the tasting process and terminology, and spaces out smelling/tasting each sample by talking about the chocolate making process, different elements of the chocolate being sampled, about where the cocoa beans were grown. Ends with a description of their new chocolate subscription to be their chocolate flavor guinea pig and try small batch test chocolate flavor/process products. 5) Walk from table up 3 steps to look into chocolate making room you sat next to during your tasting, Owner shows off chocolate sale shelf and booze infused chocolate mini barrels, and waits to take/complete your onsite purchase of chocolate. The owner was a nice guy, smart, very knowledgeable, and definitely loves what he does. There are just better ways/tours to spend your money. The chocolate they sell is worth the sticker price, the tasting is probably worth $20 per person, but other places charge like $10 or give free tours....Paradise Meadows Orchard is a perfect example (free samples, free farm tour, and same kind of nice people). read more

Honoka'a Chocolate - Shop and Chocolate making viewing window on right side. Photo taken from tasting tables below. - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Honokaa, Hawaii

Amazing chocolates. Highly recommend. Came here expecting to just buy a couple chocolate bars, but left with several boxes after trying several delicious samples of coconut milk, goats milk, 70% and 85% dark chocolate. Great service and the staff make you feel very welcome. Highly recommend if visiting from out of the area as these chocolates will make for a very nice travel gift. read more

My wife, 2 children (6 years old and 1 year old) and I recently had the pleasure of touring Kahi Ola Mau Farm with Mike, participating in a chocolate tasting, and learning all about the wonderful process of making chocolate. The whole experience was fantastic start to finish. From touring the cacao trees (and other assorted fruits and veggies grown on the farm) and learning about the cultivation process, to getting some insight about how Mike ended up on the island making chocolate, to learning a bit about the complexity of a chocolate maker's palate, to tasting the delicious stuff ourselves (including fresh cacao fruit off of the tree and an infused cacao tea that was truly the best tea I've had in my life) - everything was absolutely amazing. If you are on the island, this is absolutely worth your time. If you are not on the island, go order some of this delicious stuff! read more

Yummy place. Chocolates are good and coffee too. Pretty cool place to stop at. Would recommend.

Thius was a fascinating experience! The brief tour and history of the farm, combined with a tasting of 5 varieties of chocolate and chocolate tea was delightful. This award-winning farm has a convenient store front in the quaint town of Honka'a which is where the cacao is processed (not at the farm) and products are available for sale. This is a MUST. read more

We did the chocolate tasting at the farm. Very educational , starting with the tea! Chocolate was outstanding , setting was serene, Mike was very informative , and accommodating (considering we came on the wrong day)! Very enjoyable. Headed to the store in town afterwards and bought a few bars of our favorites. read more

Great informative tour of a cacao farm on the Big Island , with chocolate tasting. If you believe in dark chocolate, want to learn about it and how it's cultivated and made, try some superb not gimmicky chocolate with integrity and amazing flavor and authenticity, this experience is for you! read more

What a beautiful farm to visit. The chocolate was European grade excellent. The young lady who helped us with the chocolate tasting was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Mike (the owner) was super friendly and described his experience with chocolates and the how their process differs from regular retail chocolates. My party and I bought a lot of chocolates. A must-visit to this magical place! read more

We spent two hours learning how to grow the beans and produce craft chocolate and it was amazing! Mike, the owner/grower took the time to explain every part of the process, answered all of our questions, and was a fabulous host. The chocolate was *exceptional* and our family (which includes 2 teenagers) had a wonderful time. read more

Chocolate shop with local characteristics, goat's milk flavor and coconut flavor chocolate ~ read more

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During a recent vacation on Hawai'i I booked a tour of the Kahi Ola Mau Farm with a tasting of their Honoka'a Chocolates. It was the highlight of our trip. Mike is a wonderful host to the whole experience. We learned about cacao farming during a walking tour of the property and were able to taste the raw beans out of a cacao pod. What a unique experience. We then were treated to a bite of 9 different craft chocolates, all made and sold under the Honoka'a Chocolate Co. name. Mike is generous with the descriptions of the chocolate making process. He is also skilled at revealing the beautiful flavors of the beans he chooses to work with. You would be hard pressed to find a better tasting craft chocolate. If you travel to this island, I highly recommend making time to take in this unique experience. read more

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We had the best time at the Honoka'a Chocolate Co storefront in downtown Honoka'a. It wasn't on our radar. We were simply looking to explore downtown, have some coffee, a cocktail and do a little shopping. The staff greeted us at the front door and invited us in. Why not? Who doesn't like chocolate? Turned out to be a really fun 30-40 minutes of chocolate tasting and education. We love supporting local and it was awesome that the cacao beans were local and everything was produced there. The chocolate was amazing. Wound up purchasing more than we expected but half of it was gone before we had to go back home to the mainland. It was a really nice venue, clean and cool inside. Staff was really nice and friendly. No pressure at all for sales. You can tell they loved chocolate. Would love to tour the farm next time. I see a subscription in our future as soon as the wife gets to it. Highly recommend Honoka'a and the cool little businesses on the main street and definitely step in to HCC to try some chocolate. You'll wind up taking some home. read more

Fun chocolate tasting in downtown, something for everyone! I enjoyed the goat milk chocolate, others in my group did not. Tasting notes are fun, similar to a wine tasting. I wish they sold merch like stickers or shirts, and the walls are plain; the space feels a bit empty. But, Erin was an awesome host to run our tasting - knowledgeable and friendly. I'm hoping to order more online once I get through the chocolate I bought here. read more

Best tour on the island! Mike is a great story teller and he and his wife's journey to get to their amazing farm and chocolate business is so cool. I learned so much about the agriculture in Hawaii and chocolate. The tasting was so cool... amazing how just sugar and different cocoa beans make so many different flavors. I'd highly recommend a day trip to Waimea and include a Honoka'a Chocolate tour! read more

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My husband and I have visited the farm twice on our visits to the Big Island. Each time we have enjoyed our tour and tasting. The tour is both informative and delicious. Mike the owner/operator is truly passionate about make the best quality chocolate. We highly recommend a visit to the farm and new store in downtown Honakaa when your on the Big Island. read more

This farm is an amazing, authentic, not-to-miss local chocolate and farm experience for Hawai'i Island visitors and locals alike! Couple Rhonda and Mike welcomed my husband and I on Sunday for a perfect afternoon at Kahi Ola Mau Farm. Their dogs Kimo, Fluffy and Pepper were absolutely adorable and so friendly. We walked amongst the beautiful and serene farm crops of pineapples (the baby ones are so cute!), cacao, sugar cane, vanilla bean, avocado (gorgeous trees), banana, turmeric, and many other things I am forgetting. Mike and Rhonda shared interesting facts about the different plants, Hawaiian agriculture and the history of their property which had us amazed the whole time. It is so clear that they absolutely love what they do and have such fun innovative ideas. My husband I couldn't stop chatting about all the cool things we learned the whole way home! They cut up a little sugar cane for us to try and now we can't wait to come back and try it again. Yum! We also got a sample of their Hawaiian chocolate which is no joke, the best and smoothest dark chocolate I've ever tried. They even give tips on how to really savor it. My mouth is watering while I'm typing! I highly recommend checking this place out. They are so calm and welcoming, it is sure to be a major highlight of your vacation (or weekend adventure if you live here!). We can't wait to bring back our friends and family! Just reach out to them ahead of time to schedule your visit and get ready to have a great time! Also, be sure to check the weather before you go- their location can be a little chilly compared to the coastal areas. read more

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Great overview of chocolate. They actively roast cocoa beans in front of the shop. You can see the chocolate mixing through a window. Lots of artsy stuff around and up stairs. Wish there was a more samples to try, but the chocolate drink well delish! read more

Fabulous and informative farm and chocolate tasting tour. It was so similar to a wine tasting experience. Mike is so knowledgeable, funny and self-effacing. He is such a resource and willing to share his knowledge with his farming peers and people interested in the business of cacao. It was a fun, tasty and educational experience. I would highly recommend if you visit the big island. read more

The best chocolate I have ever tasted in my life! I can't go without having a bar stashed in my fridge or freezer. I find myself taking a small square and letting it literally melt in my mouth when I need a little afternoon pick me up! I was never a chocolate snob until I tried Honoka'a Chocolate Co.'s chocolate! Now, nothing compares! Customer for life! read more

Fresh off the tour with Mike- we had the farm to ourselves today. He was so gracious and explained everything about the farm- white pineapple, turmeric, vanilla beans, a handful of other fruits we've never heard of- and then the chocolate. So yummy- can't compare it with any others we've tasted. It was so special to us to support a local farmer who is passionate about the quality of their products keeping sustainability in mind. Thanks Mike and Rhonda- (and a cyber belly rub to Kimo too)! read more

We visited the little storefront in Honoka'a and the lady giving us a tour and tasting was so sweet and friendly. Chocolate is delicious and we ended up buying a few bars. Worth a stop if you're wandering through this awesome town! read more

What a great tour! We were with kids, adults and seniors. The whole crew enjoyed the educational tour and the tasting. Mike is a down-to-earth farmer with a passion for bean/to-bar chocolate. It really is superior chocolate! We've already ordered more. read more

My wife and I have been going to the Big Island for several years and have always been looking for good agritourism activities and were happy to run across the chocolate tour at Kahi Ola Mau Farm. Mike was a gracious host with a tremendous passion for farming and especially for the diversity that Big Island offers from avacados to cacao to Suriname cherries to many varieties sugar cane to white pineapples. Of course the focus of the tour is a chocolate tasting/education for which Mike shows great knowledge of the diversity of chocolate from around the world and the process of making finished chocolate. What was amazing is that he makes all his own bars from raw cacao beans around the world - Madagascar, Ghana, Peru, Haiti, Guatemala and Hawaii - showing the diversity of chocolate. We loved it so much we bought Hawaiian chocolate to go and honey from his farm plus a special order of Madagascar which we can't work. We love it so much that we plan to go back next time and we have put Kahi Ola Mau Farm on our must visit recommendation list. read more

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Great tour. Very kind. Great little place to sample the chocolate which is DELICIOUS. Very patient, even with my 8 year old who is mature for her age but still a kid. We ended up purchasing a year's subscription of chocolate bars (it's that amazing). read more

When we visited Kahi Ola Mau, it was on a whim. We thought "let's give it a shot. It's on our way to Waimea and we all love chocolate, so why not?" So after a quick phone call and some flexibility on their part, what started out as a quick stop on a day trip has become a destination point for all of our trips to Hawai'i from now on! Mike, the owner and our tour guide, was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly! His hospitality and aloha spirit was completely apparent from the first moment we pulled up to the beautiful farm that he and his wife, Rhonda, call home. He began with a brief history of the farm itself and the importance of staying as true to the roots of locally produced agriculture and sustainable farming techniques. His passion for his product and his love for his land was evident and infectious. He even managed to keep a 10 and 7 year old entertained! Now let's get down to the really important stuff... the chocolate! Intricate, complex, surprising, and DELICIOUS! It's hard to believe that all of that incredible chocolate was made right there. Multiple varieties of cacao beans were made into some of the most wonderful chocolates that I have ever tasted! We had the privilege of trying 6 different chocolates each having their own distinct flavor profiles (my favorite was the Hawaiian!). The tasting was very similar to a wine tasting experience without any of the formality. It felt like we were sitting with an old friend, in a beautiful outdoor picnic in paradise, sharing a wonderful time "talking story" about some delicious chocolate. From the amazing chocolate (we bought quite a bit to take with us) to the incredible tour, we found our time at Kahi Ola Mau to be a surprising slice of heaven in paradise that we know we will visit again and again. Mahalo and Aloha to Mike and Rhonda for all of their kindness and hospitality. read more

One of the best things we did on the Big Island! Mike met us at the gate. His chocolates were DELICIOUS! We tried about 12 different ones. His knowledge and passion really comes through as he answers any questions and explains the process of chocolate making. His farm is beautiful. He also showed us his white pineapples and explained their growing process, bananas and the important roll they play on the farm. We also tasted the BEST honey I've ever had! YOU MUST DO THIS TOUR! It took about an hour and 45 min which was the perfect amount of time. read more

Super friendly owner, gave us a chocolate tasting and shared with us some of the history of Hawaii and chocolate making. Would recommend to anyone! read more

We had an amazing visit to Honoka'a Chocolate. Thank you to Mike for a terrific tasting experience. We have been having a blast conducting our own tastings every night with the bars we brought home. And then we got our first shipment of the new bars in the monthly membership!! Such fun to pair whiskey and chocolate. Thank you for giving us a way to celebrate our 40th anniversary all year long! read more

Wonderful tour. The Honokaa Chocolate Company Ohana are a great team....everyone was so positive. The Chocolate lives up to its award winning reputation. 'Ono!!! read more

Our gracious hosts, Mike and Rhonda, really have a passion for the local community and the food that is produced here in Hawaii. The tour itself was quite informative and engaging. We learned all about the local history, from the time of sugar cane farmers to the present day chocolate makers. And if the chocolate tasting at the end of the tour wasn't amazing enough, we got to say hello to their pack of doggos - Kimo, Pepper and Fluffy. Double bonus! If you want an interesting, fun and unique experience, Kahi Ola Mau Farm & Tours is a must! read more

Honoka'a Chocolate - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Honokaa, Hawaii

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Interesting hearing about the farm and how they got started in chocolate's. The grounds are beautiful. Really enjoyed the chocolate tasting and learning the difference in tastes and textures. Very similar to wine tasting but better! Plan on visiting again on our next trip to the Big Island. read more

Mike is an awesome tour guide. Extremely knowledgeable and full of information! He also makes some really great chocolate. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed the tour and hearing the history of the farm. read more

We visited Kahi Ola Mau Farm on our visit to the Big Island and absolutely loved our time here! The owners, Mike and Rhonda, are so personable and passionate about what they grow and in serving the community there. They have everything from white pineapples (and lots of them) to papayas, cacao trees to sugar cane! The property is beautiful and Mike gives a full tour, describing everything being grown there. After a tour of the groups, you get to go into their tasting room and taste the chocolates that Mike has made there. I am a huge chocolate fan and all I can say is this chocolate is FABULOUS! The chocolate is made with different cacao beans from around the world and right in Hawaii! Mike has 70% and 85% chocolates and it is some of the smoothest chocolate I've tasted! On your next visit to the Big Island, make this a stop...you won't be sorry!! read more

Kahi Ola Mau is an amazing place & our host for the tour (Mike) who also happens to own this amazing farm with his family was amazing! The passion he has for this place is contagious & this same passion truly shows in every piece of product (chocolate, cane, fruit, honey etc.) you'll taste at the end of the tour! Its a beautiful farm & the chocolate tasting is very special! My wife & I cleaned him out of his supply & the honey is almost as good (great for honey, but hard to top chocolate). everyone who comes to visit the Hamakua coast to see Honoka'a & (or) Waipi'o MUST place this amazing farm on the list too! It's really that good! Thanks Mike!!! read more

We were looking for a tour in the area and a quick Google search lead us to this beautiful farm. As we pull up to the property Mike was there at the gate waiting to greet us. Within 10 minutes of the tour you can feel how passionate he is about what he does. He showed us his large variety of crops ranging from white pineapple, cocoa, sugar cane to vanilla orchids, turmeric and many more. The first hour is a tour of the farm and the second is the tasting. You are tasing more than just chocolate. He provided cocoa tea, super sweet mangos, and the best honey our family has ever tasted. It sounds like the accompaniments to the chocolate and the tea change depending on what is ripe and available. We all walked away with a greater appreciation for craft chocolate and what it takes to get it from a little tree to the finished bar. We all learned a lot on the tour from the history of the farm to how to grow most of the crops our selves. You could say he planted the seed ( pun intended) to bring out the green thumb in us all. read more

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Our group of six visited the Kahi Ola Mau Farm based on a recommendation from a friend and thought we would only spend an hour or so there. We ended up spending 3+ hours and could have easily extended our stay if we didn't have dinner reservation in Kona. First, the location is super easy to find right off of highway 19. Once we pulled into the farm (limited parking), we were promptly greeted by our host Rhonda. She was high energy and super friendly. Rhonda provided a brief history of the farm, introduced us to her three lovely dogs, and started the tour in the section where the white pineapples are grown. We traversed through the farm and learned some very interesting facts about the different plants including coffee, avocado, etc. The highlight of the visit was when Rhonda's husband Mike joined us 3/4 of the way through the tour and explained the entire chocolate making process from scratch. They make chocolate onsite with their own cacao plants! We got to taste a variety of chocolate from different regions of the world and were fascinated by Mike's background, knowledge, and experience. We definitely won't forget this tour for a while! Tip - stay away from the avocado tree if you don't want to get a big bump on your head read more