Hawaiian Craft Chocolate Tasting and Farm Tour Experience
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
10:00 am – 1:30 pm
3-3.5 Hours
Description
As you journey to Honolii Orchards, you’ll drive along some of the Big Island’s scenic backroads, rarely explored by most visitors. Our 33-acre family-owned farm is located just 5 minutes from Hilo, set amidst historic breadfruit, sugarcane, macadamia, and cattle land, 1.7 miles up Puia Road.
Upon arrival, you’ll step into our elevated tasting room, perched above the orchard canopy, offering breathtaking ocean and valley views. We’ll begin with some casual conversation before heading out to tour the orchards with Colin Hart, our master agronomist.
In the orchards, you’ll explore the journey of the cacao tree-from cultivation to harvest-and discover how its precious fruits are transformed into the beloved treat we know as chocolate. We encourage curiosity, so feel free to ask any questions you may have! While here, we’ll also delve into the broader agricultural history of the region, touching on the once-booming sugarcane industry that shaped the Hamakua Coast.
Following the orchard tour, Colin, whose master’s work focused on cacao fermentation and drying, will guide you through the fascinating process of cacao fermentation. This is a unique opportunity to dive deep into the science of post-harvest processing, a critical step in producing high-quality craft chocolate.
Next, we’ll return to the tasting room for an engaging exploration of chocolate’s history, tracing its origins from ancient Mesoamerica to today’s craft chocolate revolution. You’ll also gain an understanding of the key differences between craft chocolate and mass-produced commodity chocolate.
We conclude the tour with an exceptional tasting of 10 single-origin craft chocolate bars, all sourced from various farms across the Hawaiian Archipelago. Through this tasting, you’ll experience the incredible diversity of flavors that Hawaiian cacao offers. Like fine wine, craft chocolate reveals the profound influence of terroir-how genetics, soil, and climate combine to create distinct flavor profiles.
We like to think of Hawaii as the Napa Valley of craft chocolate, and by joining us, you’ll become part of an exclusive group at the forefront of this growing industry. This experience will equip you with the knowledge to discuss cacao agriculture and chocolate’s rich history with confidence, while also helping you refine your own unique flavor preferences.
In addition to the chocolate tasting, you’ll also get to try fresh cacao juice, roasted cacao beans, chocolate-covered macadamias, cacao tea, and other seasonal fruits and farm-fresh treats.
After the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase any of the chocolates you tasted. You’re also welcome to stay, relax in the tasting room, or take a leisurely walk through our beautiful orchards.
Inclusions:
- Guided 10-bar chocolate-tasting
- Unlimited chocolate samples
- Guided farm tour
- Seasonal fruit from the farm
- History of Hawaiian agriculture discussion
- History of chocolate lesson
- Cacao juice
- Cacao tea
- Water
- Umbrellas
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
Exclusions:
- Rain Jackets
- Gratuities
Closed
Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve, New Years Day
Pickup Location (primary meeting point): https://maps.app.goo.gl/VmqcEpdS2hkYYq5e6
Please Arrive between 945am and 1015am. Pickup occurs on Kulana Street in Paukaa Hawaii, just 5 minutes north of Hilo. Guests will park along a big grassy community park on the shoulder of the road. The park is across the street from the Paukaa Kingdom Hall of Jehovas Witness church. From there, our tour van will shuttle guests directly to our farm, a 10 minute drive up the slopes of Maunakea.
Farm Location (secondary meeting point): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Gphg7AhTCY2g5PsH8
Please Arrive between 945am and 1015am. This is where our tour van will shuttle guests to and where the tour takes place. Occasionally we will request that our guests drive directly to the farm, as opposed to meeting our tour van at the primary meeting point. In instances where a guest has mobility issues or special and specific needs, or when tour group sizes are small, we will request that guests drive directly to the farm. We will reach out to the primary contact for each booking in such cases.
Specific Driving Instructions for “secondary meeting point”
Please use Google Maps to navigate to this pin. Other map applications may not be as reliable: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Gphg7AhTCY2g5PsH8
Guest will turn up Woa / Puia road from Kulana Street in Paukaa Hawaii. There is a Jehovas Witness church adjacent to where Woa / Puia road begins. Please continue past any “private road” signs.
Guests will drive up Puia Road for 5-10 minutes, about 1.7 miles total. The Honolii Orchards Driveway is on the left after crossing a culvert over a small stream. The culvert has two small “no trespassing” signs posted on each side of it.
Our tour van will return our guests to their vehicles after the tour finishes.
Participant Restrictions:
Age: 9+
Allergies: Please let us know of any allergies
Physical Restrictions: Guests must be able to walk up the ramp to our tasting room. Guests who are unable to walk around our farm, during the 1.5 hour farm tour portion of the experience, are invited to lounge in our tasting room during that time.
Cancellation Policy:
Full refund if canceled within 12 hours.
Additional Notes:
We will be walking around a working commercial farm. Please be aware that clothes or shoes may get dirty.
Please also be aware that we run our tours rain or shine, so be prepared with appropriate rain attire. We have umbrellas available.
Closed-toed shoes, hats, and rain jackets are all recommended but not required.
