PHOTO: HAWAI‘I TOURISM AUTHORITY (HTA) / HEATHER GOODMAN | LOCATION: KAILUA-KONA
Ever wondered what goes into making that magical treat called CHOCOLATE? Luckily for visitors to Hawai‘i 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 also are perfect for harvesting the seeds of this tropical plant.
On South Kona’s Mt. Hualalai, the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory farms its cacao beans, handpicks, sun dries and processes them.
The company also takes the final step, turning the processed beans into authentic HAWAIIAN CHOCOLATE BARS. During a single visit to the farm, guests get to see the entire chocolate process in action!
One-hour WALKING TOURS are available. Visit ohcf.us for details.