I'm really glad I checked, the day I had planned to visit the shop downtown, what time they closed, and I'm glad I checked at 2:45, since the answer is: 3. I'm also glad I happened to be a couple blocks away at that time, cause it would've stunk if I'd missed out! They have a whole range of great chocolates, from 55-90 percent that were all great, a fantastic matcha chocolate, great dried fruit chocolates, and one very good, *very* spicy dark chocolate (I loved it enough to buy a bar, but much more so than most pepper chocolates I've had, it does *not* play around.) Definitely also loved that they had samples of basically everything they sell. Also loved, we learned, it was actually the chocolatier himself running the shop when we were there, so all our questions were being answered directly from the source. It also worked out in that they didn't actually *have* any bars of the spicy chocolate out, as he'd just made a new batch and hadn't packaged them yet, so when he learned we were leaving the next day, he pressed one for me right then and there! How's that for great service? read more

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So glad we stumbled upon this little gem during our travels! The owners were so friendly and all the samples were delicious. Since it was hot and we were traveling by car, we opted for the cacao nibs and THEY ARE INCREDIBLE. We had them on ice cream paired with molten lava cake and I'm still thinking (drooling) about it. Lots of options for gifts and the staff will make great recommendations. read more

This review is based on being part of the tour! It was little confusing to get to the farm/tour location, but just look at your email for the right location. Tour guide was very knowledgeable, some people had 'hard' questions and she answered all of them well. I wasn't sure why we were talking about breadfruit until 10min in when she mentioned it's to block off the wind from the cacao trees. It was nice for her to cut a couple of the pods for us to see the inside. We got to try the flesh on the bean too. Reminds me of mangosteen (flavor/texture wise). The tour itself is pretty small, a few rows of cacao trees with accompanying ulu trees (love the co op they're a part of, the rev-ulu-tion to bring the breadfruit back to popularity). It was also cool to see the banana trees and the dwarf coconut and mango tree (sentimental story around Tom's grandfather) You get to try the chocolate when you're back at the factory. Parking isn't too hard if you park a block or so away. The samples are in a little cup, you get cacao nibs and 2 turtles (dark and milk). Lots of variety in the shop, (10% off merchandise, cafe menu) there's samples of the different flavors for you to try. We picked up 3 bars (spicy, dark coffee, dark). Disclaimer on the coffee drinks: this is not a coffee shop - I tried the lava latte and there wasn't any coffee flavor (think they use coffee ice cubes, not completely sure, maybe it was just so the drink wouldn't be diluted). But I would pass if you want an actual coffee drink. read more

I would recommend this chocolatier to anyone visiting the Big Island. It is definitely worth the trip to Hilo. I purchased the Lava Hot bar - it is not for the faint of heart (or taste buds) but it is oh so good! The mocha was made with actual chocolate (not a syrup) and was equally delicious. The owner was open to all my questions and informative. I will definitely be back to the shop and will schedule a chocolate tour with them (unfortunately we did not have time for a tour this trip). read more

Had I not realized there were chocolate farms to tour I wouldn't have found this place. The 2 part tour sends you to the farm and then down to the store they process everything in to chocolate in DT Hilo. The farm also provides produce to the local farmers market. The final product chocolate is delicious!! They're around $7 for a bar. I am interested in their hot drinks and smoothies, I will have to go back for it this week. The "factory" is just the one room/store you see when you go in for treats. Low key laid back, I'm surprised how much volume they can pump out of their small space! Online purchasing available. I'm sorry I don't remember the tour guides names as they were both nice men with tons of knowledge. I got the cookie for dessert at Cafe Pesto last night that contained the chocolate chips from this facility and it was one of the best chocolate chip cookies I have ever had! read more

Mahiai Made - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Booked a tour for my boyfriend and myself. Easy to find with the emailed directions they provided. The owner Tom was very friendly, knowledgeable, hilarious and answered all our questions. This gave me a much better understanding and knowledge of hard worked placed into farming, harvesting and making chocolate. Tom also had good tips on carrying for my banana apple in my yard. The chocolate tasting was delightful, and their shop had great selections and also provided coffee and smoothies. Tour says 1 hour, but it's one hour at the farm and another 30 min or so spent at the shop. Definitely bring bug spray during the farm tour :) read more

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We squeezed this tour in on our last day on the Big Island. It was so much fun and well worth it. Our guide was very knowledgeable and explained each part of the process. I originally tried to book another tour that was full, but I'm so happy it was. Hilo Crown Plantation is a small, local, organic farm. I love supporting local and the tour was much more personal on a smaller level. We even met the owner Tom who answered any questions anyone still had. Be sure to lather up in lots of natural bug spray for the farm tour though, we made it an entire 9 days without a bite until here. read more

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Small local chocolatier shop with great service, lots of samples, and high-quality chocolate

Enjoyed a tour with Tom, the owner, a real down to earth guy, and learned a whole lot about more than just the cacao to chocolate process. He grows a variety of cacao plants as well as 'ulu (breadfruit, a personal favorite) used as a windbreak as well as a food source, he also grows a Tahitian variety of coconut, a leguminous tree variety for its nitrogen fixing characteristics, and has just started growing a "bunchy top" resistant variety of banana. He alternates rows to avoid the problems inherent in monocropping and has a vast knowledge of plant pathology from university studies all of which he shared in easily grasped layman's terms. We tasted the pulpy beans, fresh from the pod. Pulp is almost citrus in flavor, before biting into the beans with their rich cacao bitterness. Everything here has its valued use. He lays out the unwashed cacao beans under banana leaves which provide natural yeasts to start the fermentation process. After two stages of fermentation he opens them up to dry. After the farm tour we headed to the shop in Hilo. In the shop he roasts them in an open area, cracks the nibs and vacuums off the husks. Husks and bits of nib are used to make a refreshing cacao tea. Nibs are crushed, coached, tempered, mixed with sugar, etc. (no alkali or "Dutch process") to become chocolate. This liquid chocolate is eventually poured into molds and packaged up all in the shop. There are chocolate chips of all the current varieties for you to taste. The 70%, to my taste, is so accessible and melts smoothly on the tongue. He also makes vegan "coconut milk chocolate". I'm not a milk chocolate fan but this I could do, totally. So, yeah, get there. read more

Best chocolate ever!!! So many different bars and you can sample all the varieties at the store. Plus they have the best chocolate covered dried fruit (pineapple, mango, banana) I've ever had! You can taste all the care that goes into the entire process when you sample their chocolate - it's AMAZING. Once you try this chocolate and learn from their process, you will be more conscious about the way you buy & consume chocolate. HIGHLY recommend taking the farm & factory tour if you are a chocolate lover. It's clear that Tom is a cacao expert with so many years of experience to elevate his craft chocolate from the farm to the store. Truly inspiring to learn from him & his ohana who pour their hearts into this business! We had such a wonderful time, learned a lot, shared laughs, & enjoyed so much delicious chocolate. This is such a valuable experience for both locals & tourists. I will definitely be back! read more

I didn't get to visit the store but my human friends came back from Hawaii with Hawaiian Crown's Macadamia Nuts Bar as they know I love chocolate. After an exhausting day of digging a lil burrow to chill in, I opened the bar and started to bite into it. The cacoa nibs are grown on the island locally and you can really taste the bitter, earthy flavor like a delicious dirt cake. They didn't let the macadamia nuts overpower the chocolate taste as they were more delicate in size and quantity, letting the chocolate itself shine through. Thanks to this bar I was able to finish my digging project and got to sleep in the burrow the rest of the day. I will def say this is a great sign of a good bar. Hopefully, I'll sneak in a plane to Hawaii so I can actually visit the store but a rat can only dream. Though some dreams can come true. read more

This is not exactly a chocolate factory or plantation ; at best it's a small store selling a few chocolate specialty items. While they have a number of very unique items, like cacao tea leaves that you can buy and make your own cacao tea, and various %s of dark to light chocolate. But it is a very tiny store with just one table and two small chairs for guests who order drinks. read more

Mahiai Made - Counter in the store - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

This was a terrific experience! We did the chocolate farm and factory tour and would highly recommend it to anyone. It is extremely affordable and worth every penny. The tour takes place on the farm where you see the cacao plants, banana and plantain plants, bread fruit, and coconut trees. We then drive to the factory to see the entire process of the chocolate being made. We ran into Tom, the owner, at the store after the tour and he was very nice and we enjoyed chatting with him! This is a great tour for adults and children and I would highly recommend it. The chocolate is also delicious! read more

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Came here late and just missed the last tour. The generous staff offered samples. Tried various levels of chocolate with different concentrations of cacao. They had a variety of cacao products such as brewing cacao, nibs, and beans. Purchased a dark chocolate sea salt bar and ate it on the spot. It was delicious, smooth, refined, and just melted in your mouth. Quality chocolate but it was also pricey at $8. Will come back another time for the chocolate factory tour. read more

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From seed to savoring, Hawaiian Crown Chocolate produces ethically and organically grown cacao. I highly recommend taking the farm tour, if you have a couple of hours free. It ends with tastings at the shop in Hilo. There is also a ten percent discount for people who took the tour in the shop. We tried every flavor, and enjoyed each one. I specially loved the coffee crunch (YUM) and the vegan coconut chocolates. read more

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Loved my tour here! The tour guide was great, she answered all our questions and was an overall nice person. I could go on n on about how sweet the owner is, it's like you're talking to a friend. On top of all that the chocolate is so good! We spent about $80 on chocolate lol I'll definitely continue to order their products and have them shipped to me read more

I have been to the Hawaiian Crown Plantation in Waikiki in that one has the most amazing acai bowls. I was hoping for the same thing here but the acai was terrible. It wasn't very pliable and seemed like some weird paste. I just ate all the fruits... what a waste of $10+ read more

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Nice place, had a chat with the owners, they were nice. We were offered samples and they all were quite good. The owners explained the chocolate making process which was interesting to hear! A nice local business and good products! read more

Pretty steep claim for others to write "best acai bowl on the island", but it truly is. Don't be put off by the storefront aesthetics- we all know that sometimes hole in the wall restaurants have the best food. I'm from southern California where acai bowls are abundant and even worked at an acai bowl store, but the base is unparalleled. Their acai base somehow maintains consistency the entire time you eat it and isn't overly sweet and overpowering; signs of true acai in natural form. Commercialized acai bowls that mass produced quickly to gain more profit are often loaded with extra sugars and melt quickly before you even finish the bowl. The pineapple as a topper was very sweet and juicy. Get the coffee, too. It definitely has a sweet lifted tone to it. Hard to describe, but once you try it, you'll know. :) read more

Mahiai Made - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

My Lonely Planet guide described the chocolate tour here as one of the "must do" things on the Big Island. I wouldn't go that far. The tour's a bit expensive ($30), but you do get free samples. It's fairly interesting - my main takeaway was that making chocolate from bean to bar is far more trouble than it's worth in a developed country with high labor costs. Farm can be hard to find, so get there early. read more

Tiny shop in walking proximity to the Two Ladies Kitchen. Great pick me up coffee for the second half of our day! read more

Mahiai Made - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Hands down the best chocolate on the island. Made with skill and love, if you like chocolate you have to try this.

Amazing! Delicious! Fantastic! These are a few words that I would use to describe Hawaiian Crown Plantation and Chocolate Factory. We found this place on accident...we were walking around the farmers market and came upon it as we continued our walk. It's a cute place, about medium size...down the street from Two Ladies Kitchen. We met Tom and his daughter Oona and they were able to educate us on the chocolate that they make. They turn their beans into chocolate candy and they make hot chocolate as well. Their local chocolate is grown by them and they also produce fruit from their farm as well....like pineapples. The chocolate samples that we tasted were amazing and helped us make our decision on what to buy. I wasn't able to try the hot chocolate this time, but I did buy the Dark Milk chocolate turtles, 70% Dark chocolate turtles, and the Dark Milk Salted Macadamia nut chocolates. Everything was so yummy I regretted not buying more. We also took home some cacao nibs as well....so excited to bake with them. I will be back for that hot chocolate! read more

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We just completed the 2 hour tour from the cacao farm to finished chocolate products and so glad we did this. Our kids loved being able to walk through the trees, touch the pods, taste the cacao fruit and try out a variety of their finished products at the store. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and knew how to engage even her littlest audience. The farm is absolutely beautiful with other fruit trees, thoughtfully planted throughout. Tom the owner was extremely nice, you can tell he takes great pride in his work and products. They had a variety of interesting flavors at the store and our favorite was the ube white chocolate. I cannot say enough great things about this place but highly recommended for those looking to have a unique, educational and tasty experience for the whole family. read more

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This little chocolate shop is small but it's the best chocolate on the island. It is all grown, picked, roasted and processed within 5 miles of the shop. Take the farm tour also!!! It is well worth the $30/adult and $10/kid. One of the highlights of our trip on the Hilo side for sure!! read more

This was a great tour!! We learned a lot about chocolate that we never knew!! Hard to find!! Make sure when you book you follow the directions to get there because other map sources will only take you to the shop. Recommend this trip!! read more

Got the hot mocha ($5) and tiger shark latte ($8). So bad. Mocha was watery and didn't really taste of anything good. tiger shark latte tasted slightly better but artificial with a weird aftertaste. read more

Absolute best tour ever! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the whole process from growing cocoa to making the chocolate. It was a very nice small business farm. The tour group was smaller which i loved! You even got to walk onto the cocoa plantation and see all the different types of cocoa trees. The guide even let us try some cocoa and apple bananas (better than regular bananas). Then at the little shop we got to try the chocolate. Very unique and fun tour. Highly recommend when in hilo. Go on a wednesday...you can do the tour and hit the hilos farmers market for amazing fruit! read more

Mahiai Made - Apple bananas before dividing up for packaging - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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The chocolate is locally made and very good. They also have pretty good acai bowls, but I thought the base had too many bananas, definitely had better. read more

Thanks for ruining the surprise for my 4 year old. We drove out of our way to get here... arrived at 4:45pm to find a sign on the door that said CLOSED even though it was only 4:45. The workers inside the shop ignored us when we asked to come in. Horrible. read more

Mahiai Made - Closed at 4:45pm, supposed to be open until 5pm - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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We had a great tour at the farm and then at the shop! We arrived 10 min late but they were super accommodating, offered bug spray due to the amount of mosquitoes in the area, and were overall very kind. The tour was very educational, we got to see a section of the farm, greenhouse, and taste some raw cacao. We then drove in our cars to meet up at the shop where we sat outside for an explanation of how the cacao is further processed into chocolate. Lastly, we tasted some cacao and hibiscus tea, had a few samples of chocolate, and were able to buy some bars for home :) read more

Great place to get iced coffee (two sizes for either $2.50 and $3.50) and delicious pieces of chocolate that they make with the cacao beans they harvest, ferment, etc from their farm close by! They use coffee cubes in their ice coffees and the folks were all so friendly. We ate some dark chocolate and milk chocolate bars, along with the dehydrated pineapple slices dipped in chocolate. We stopped by at the suggestion of one of their staff working at the farmer's market. I would definitely stop by again! read more

Mahiai Made - Onolicious! - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Tour was great! Much smaller operation than I anticipated. Truly Hand crafted goods and they control the whole process starting from the farm. The owner Tom even joined for the last bit of the tour at the shop in town. Really nice guy. We made good use of our 10% discount at the shop. read more

Their chocolate is delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed the frozen chocolate shake! Loved going on their farm to chocolate tour. Highly recommend the tour - educational, friendly and yummy! read more

Took the farm and store tour. Very nicely done. Very informative. Met Tom the owner at the shop and he added some details to the presentation. Got 10% store goods at the end of the tour. Well worth the time. Very unique experience. I appreciate chocolate way more now that I know all the steps from farm to bar. read more

Tom and the rest of the staff were amazing! He took time to explain all of the steps in the chocolate making process from plant to finished product and even let us sample some melted chocolate before it was poured. The chocolate, pineapple juice, chocolate covered pineapple were all delicious. read more

Mahiai Made - Tom showing my family how the roasting process works. - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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The farm tour was awesome and the chocolate is amazing. Tom (owner) and our tour guide were very friendly and knowledgeable and we all (kids included) loved seeing and learning about the different trees on the farm and seeing how cocao is processed and made into chocolate! read more

Very cute shop. The owner was very informative and helpful! The chocolate was amazing. I had the açaí bowl and frozen chocolate banana, definitely recommend! Stop by for some chocolate in Hilo! It's all made in house and delicious. read more

Mahiai Made - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Cute little place. It's a grab and go just one seating table. People are very nice. I had the açaí bowl and grabbed some chocolates and cookies. I recommend this as a stop when on Hilo. read more

Mahiai Made - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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This Plantation/shop was incredible! The chocolate is delicious and beyond fair trade. If you are a self-proclaimed chocolate conisour, I defiantly recommend it! Great service, friendly people and great chocolate! Keep it up! read more