See Chocolate Made from Bean to BarBig Island
Ever wondered what goes into making that magical treat called chocolate? Lucky for visitors to the Big Island, Kona boasts not only coffee farms but also a one-stop field-to-bar experience, The Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory.
While cacao isn’t endemic to Hawai‘i, the same Kona slopes that are ideal for coffee growing are perfect harvesting cacao. On South Kona’s Mt. Hualalai, The Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory not onlyfarms cacao beans, but also handpicks, sun dries, and process the beans.
The company also takes it the final step, turning the processed beans into authentic Hawaiian chocolate bars. So with a single visit to the farm, guests get to see the entire chocolate process in action.
Tours run every Wednesday at 9 a.m. and Friday at 9:30 a.m. by phone appointment. Call (888) 447-2626.
