Spring for the deluxe tour. At the end instead of having to decide what you want you get a great…read morevariety. Our tour guide Sherry was amazing, great energy. Expected to have my husband pass me his dark chocolate as normally it's not his thing but he tried it and I'm sad to say he kept eating all the chocolate. If you're looking for a good intro to fine chocolate and eco tourism this is it.

a must-stop three hour tour for chocoholics if visiting the island of Kauai…read more Like coffee, the cacao plant grows in the tropical belt with Hawaii being the only state in the Union that can grow it. Thus, taking a chocolate tour (and sampling chocolate) became something my wife wanted to do during our visit to Kauai. I booked it on the first day on the island, with cost being $140 per person via Viator, and was able to reserve spots for the following day at 11:00. It's well set-up with clear signs pointing you to the farm (need to pass by other houses through a small residential area). Guides will tell you where to park your car...we intentionally came only 10 minutes before the start and were some of the last ones to arrive. Our tour was fully filled with a maximum of 25 guests. The property is hilly, and the tour does involve a bit of walking, with 3 separate sitting areas where we sampled different foods. In our initial gathering spot, we met Mason (our primary guide). He later told us that he was going into civics. His charismatic personality and willingness to help others, really serves his guests well during the tour and his future (in politics, I'm assuming). We learned a lot about the farm, and had access to bathrooms, natural bug spray (mosquitos definitely bite here) with a place to wash hands, and distribution of umbrellas (for the occasional shower and protection from the sun). Got to sample an apple banana and cocoa tea while learning about the history of the farm. There was so much information, I had to take notes on my smartphone...apologies if I looked like I was not paying attention. In addition to the 3968 cacao trees on the farm (46 acres), other products are grown and raised to supplement the viability of the main crop: apple bananas whose leaves are used the cacao fermentation process; honey from the 50 hives to pollinate the cacao (the parasitic destructor mites that have devastated honey bee hives across the world have not yet made it to Kauai...makes me appreciate the Hawaiian agricultural controls); the vanilla plant vines that are hand pollinated to produce such rare extract that the public can't buy it. We walked to the second spot, passing by various plants and crops. There we sampled unusual tropical fruit (rambutan, soursop, and white pineapple), chocolate covered macadamia nuts (grown in Hawaii), and different honeys. Made me love mac nuts again. The final spot was to taste the chocolate bars. We sampled 5 of theirs (70% dark, 70% with sea salt, 75% with rum, 78% reserve, 50% milk with coffee/nibs), 3 Valrhona, and 1 Hershey. Mason gave a demonstration by hand of how cocoa liquor is made from the fermented seeds (this part is done by machine at a plant in Oahu...their plan is to do future expansion in Kauai so they can emphatically state that it is a completely Kauai product). The 70% dark 1/8 lb bars are $18, and I ended up buying quite a few to give as gifts (Mason didn't buy this explanation). We tried one bar when we got home, and can confirm how creamy and sweet they are (no bitterness). Other tidbits: -- chocolate is a fruit, not a bean or vegetable. -- Only Hawaii can grow it in U.S. -- Grafting is common for consistency -- Chocolate is purple. Black means there were moldy shells. No mold here, so discarded shells can be made into tea -- Most macadamia nuts sold in Hawaii are grown in Australia, and only packaged in Hawaii. -- White chocolate is real chocolate, just using cocoa butter only. -- AI will tell you dark chocolate is bitter cause raw cocoa is earthy (i.e. bitter). Instead, Mason proposed that it was because mass production causes uneven, incomplete fermentation. Smaller batches = careful watching = less bitterness. This was a revelation to me. -- the owner is a fifth generation farmer in Kauai, with him recently changing the name of his farm to his family name. -- At the 2023 Cacao of Excellence Awards held in Europe, Lydgate won the top prize (gold medal) for the Asia & Pacific region, along with six others in the same region, including 2 others from Hawaii. They had previously been named Top 50 in the world multiple times. -- Because they are such a popular tour, there are multiple time slots and days available. The most important thing to note about the quality of the chocolate: cacao plants bear fruit all year round, with Lydgate farms picking and fermenting by hand when it is the right time (as opposed to bigger operations where they combine ripe and unripe fruit all together for the sake of efficiency). Even for a layman like me, it was a convincing argument on why their dark chocolate is premium, costly, and has no bitterness (even at 70%). The major awards that they have received is just confirmation of this fact. And the tour being 3 hours long in such a small area...the time went by really fast.

I found HouLau on yelp after looking into chocolate farm tours on the island. With the 5 star…read morereview and the economical price, my husband and I decided to book. What a fabulous experience! There was only one other couple on the tour, which lasted nearly four hours. Howard and Sally gave us the full story of how they came to be chocolate farmers, took us on the tour of the property, we picked our own ripe pods, then opened them to taste the matrix. They then took us into the building where the chocolate is made, showing us the step-by-step process. Both are great communicators, with a gentle mannerism and easy humor. The final part of the tour included a tasting, with the option to buy some of the chocolate, the amazing brownies that Sally makes, homemade vanilla and also the local honey. We both left very inspired by Howard and Sally's story and dedication. If you are inclined to take a chocolate farm tour, HouLau is highly recommended for a personalized and memorable tour.

I loved this place. Howard and Sally were awesome! They treated my gf and I like we were long time…read morefriends, showed us their whole process from picking cacao pods to roasting beans and pouring the chocolate molds. They gave us more than a chocolate tour by giving us their interesting family history and how they learned to make chocolate. Not only was the chocolate great but they also make the best brownies (not this kind lol!) Email them on their website to schedule a visit and learn about these great people.

Amazing farm tour to table experience that educates and nourishes. This is a quintessential…read moreactivity that I look for on all Hawaii islands. This farm focuses on sustainability and regenerative farming; I appreciated learning that the main course was a byproduct of Ahi fishing: the Mongchong. The practice of lessening our waste is something we all need to be wary and partake in and respect the earth and the oceans that we take nourishment from. The meal was very special. This is a great chance to taste the unfamiliar; food you'll never taste on the mainland. I hope they excel when they start their restaurant business!

The food and setting were lovely. This is more of an event space than an actual farm, though they…read moredo source their ingredients locally. The farm tour- at least with the guide we had- was a wander through a small organic garden with a guide describing some plants that might be exotic if you're from the mainland- it's pleasant and interesting. There's no serious description of agriculture on Hawaii or why Hawaii has to import food or what might be done about it. There was no asking for questions, and a maybe 30% disinformation content. I'd suggest the owners list on the menu for the day where each item comes from- clearly that's what their clientele is interested in? Some of this might have been covered in the 4 minute meet with the chef, but I didn't retain it. It would be fun to know what all the ingredients are. Any last minute unforeseen swaps could then be discussed before the meal, since the visitors are interested in sustainable Ag we'd be interested in its unpredictability too.

We had such a fun time visiting the farm. The owner is a great host and is very passionate about…read morehis fruits. We got mangoes, star apples, chempedak (a special jackfruit unique to his farm), papayas, bananas. We especially love the Alfonso Gold mangoes, they are very fragrant and sweet. All the fruits are really delicious. Our only regret is not finding this place earlier in our vacation so we can make multiple trips for fresh fruits. If you do go, text or call ahead of time so you can get GPS to parking area and the gate code or you won't be able to get in.

This review has been a long time coming. We visited Thanh's farm back in July and had the best…read moretime. He gave us a tour of the farm and we were really lucky to be able to try all of our favorite fruits. At the end he let us try all the varieties of mango grown on the farm and we got to take back with his a big box of all our favorite fruits. This included soursop, mangos, abiu, etc. if you're on the island, be sure to check out Thanh's farm. It's definitely worth a trip out to this side of the island to try the most amazing fruits.

As a big fan of goat milk moisturizers and soap we decided to check out this place…read more We were pleasantly surprised to see many families out and enjoying the farm as well. They have a little gift shop which sells their merch and delicious goat cheese and goat gelato. The cheeses are sold individually or in a four-flavor flight; along with crackers it made a delicious snack. We tried the four-flavor flight with crackers and boy were they good. Their big hit are their goat gelatos. They have quite a few flavors which were all very good. We got the chocolate and coffee flavors. It was very creamy with a slight twang. Very good!! After eating we bought some goat food and visited the goats. They also offer a tour which takes people behind the scenes to other areas of the farm. The drive out is not too bad. It's just past Kemo'o farms. Lots of signage leading to the farm. Big open lot to park. A great family friendly place to take the keikis and eat goatlato.

Date of Visit: 6.12.2026…read more Location: Oahu Cuisine Type: Goat Dairy Vibe: Rustic country with Hawaiian flair, and you can see (and feed!) various goats Cost: $-$$ depending on what you order Service: N/A (counter order, bring to the big tables yourself) Food/ Rating: -5/5- The goat ice cream is creamy with a strong flavor (everything here is goated). The goat cheese platter is great too, the garlic one was my favorite. Pro tip: bring your own crackers or you'll pay more for theirs. Overall Thoughts: Best Thing I ate: Literally everything is good Something to Improve: The flies are annoying so you can set them a sugar tray aka left over ice cream and leave it on the side

What a fun chocolate tour located on the North Shore. I actually had never heard of this local…read morecacao farm, but my husband found it as an activity to do when his parents were visiting from the mainland. You can sign up online for the tour, which includes seeing the cacao trees, and how they grow the different types of cacao, harvest it, process it, and turn it into a local chocolate for Manoa chocolate company. It's actually very fascinating, but quite a long process, which is why most chocolate companies don't make their chocolate from scratch. At the end of the tour, you have a chance to sample some of their finished Manoa chocolate products, such a treat!

Kamananui Orchard…read more This was one of the stops on our island tour, and it ended up being such a fun little experience! We got to sample some unique local coffee and pick up some to enjoy during the rest of our trip. The macadamia nuts were incredible--so much flavor in every bite! It was also really cool seeing the coffee beans and macadamias still growing on the trees and learning a little about how they're grown. A great stop if you're touring Oʻahu and want to experience some of the island's local agriculture beyond the beaches.

I don't normally leave reviews, but after visiting this place I had to. I highly recommend Little…read morePlumeria Farm. My husband and I went to their farm tour on a Saturday morning and it was so much fun. Their hospitality and kindness is truly unmatched and we felt that even before we got there. We were having some issues with our rental car that we weren't sure if we were going to make it. But when I called they were so accommodating and helpful. What started as a rough morning turned into the highlight of our trip. The farm is owned and operated by a family that pours so much love and hard work into these flowers. They shared a vast amount of knowledge about the beautiful plumeria that had us taking personal notes we just didn't want to forget. At the end of the tour you get to immerse yourself and walk through the plumeria that overlook an amazing view of the North Shore shoreline. If you are a lover of the Plumeria or just want to learn and smell the most beautifully fragrant flower there is please make this farm a stop the next time you're in Oahu. We will definitely be back to do their Lei Making Tour.

This was such a wonderful experience, meeting and learning firsthand from the Little family about…read moretheir plumeria farm. This was my first time visiting and my family and I were all amazed by the beautiful varieties of plumeria. The presentation was very informative and the time we were able to stroll on the land was scenic and offered beautiful views. I am thankful they keep their tour groups small as it provides a more personal experience. Every staff member here was so kind, happy, and helpful. We purchased three plumeria cuttings today. For my next visit to Hawaii I will definitely be returning here again to purchase more.

I grew up in Wahiawa and spent a good part of my childhood outdoors. One memorable activity for me…read morewas being able to work in the Loi Patch. Something about pulling weeds knee deep in cool mud is so peaceful to me! I brought my boyfriend to Na Mea Kupono farm on a Saturday workday at 9am. We volunteered our time that morning and got a free workout! Kuuipo, Uncle Steve and Bevy (?) made us feel like family right away and the other student volunteers were just as awesome to work with as well. If you want an authentic Hawaii experience you should definitely check out Na Mea Kupono. The people who work here love and respect the land, know the history of the island, and appreciate the bounty the loi provides. When you visit here you can't help but feel accomplished and satisfied. And a little bit dirty. Bonus--Don't forget to grab some Huli Huli chicken at Malama Market as your reward for your hard work! Worth it!

Unbelievably beautiful place. The Lo'i patch is truly amazing, and they have so much knowledge and…read morecare for the land with such aloha. This place is magical.

This was a highlight of our visit to the North Shore... Visit them. Help support the local…read morecommunity and the bees. The owner, our host (Ash), and Samir were all wonderful! Did you know: Female bees dominate the hive, making up more than 95% of the population. They are the only ones who work, sting, and populate. #girlbosses

We had such a great time at Hi Honey Farms! The tour was interactive, educational, and so much fun…read morefrom start to finish. We got to learn about the different fruits and trees grown on the farm, see the bees up close, and even hold the bee hives, which was such a unique experience! The farm was full of charm with cats, chickens, and geckos roaming around, making it feel so welcoming. The honey tasting at the end was the perfect way to wrap up the tour, and everything we tried was delicious. The tour guides were absolutely adorable and made the experience even more enjoyable. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do. We highly recommend visiting Hi Honey Farms if you're looking for a fun and memorable experience in Hawaii! Shout out to Ash and her trainee

For a little under $200, me and my husband had the best morning celebrating our first anniversary…read moreat Hanai Hives. We allotted enough time to head up to the North Shore and it was easy to find this location thanks to the clear directions in email. I've wanted to learn more about the bees for a long time and what better way than to put on a get a private tour where you get to suit up and get a fab lesson from Katie and team on the ins and outs of the bees working hard at making honey. Our tour was about 2 hours long. We were in awe of how hard the beekeepers and the bees here work. We even got to see another bee robbing another bee on site! And saw how to get the beetles out of there! I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get the right sized suit. And they are super nice about taking photos for you!!! The tour ended with a honey tasting and charcuterie board with mint infused iced water! Then we were off to the gift shop which had all the flavors available for tasting -- we loved the hot honey. This TOUR IS A MUST and it is so easy to schedule through their website as they have so much availability 6 days a week.

My husband, daughter, and I took a tour of Hanai Hives and what a unique experience! We learned so…read moremuch while we were there and it has only increased our interest in bees and beekeeping. The grounds are beautiful, the staff friendly and knowledgeable, the bees were fascinating, and the honey was amazing! I would definitely recommend this experience. In fact, my sister is now looking at doing it when she returns to the island, and I may just join her!