Overview
A Journey to Remember
Begin your escape with a scenic drive up Maunakea’s slopes, winding through the Big Island’s hidden backroads, past rolling cattle pastures and historic macadamia orchards. Arrive at our family-owned cacao farm, where tranquility meets luxury in our open-air tasting room. Perched above the canopy, soak in panoramic views of the Honolii River Valley and Pacific Ocean. Keep an eye out—you might even spot a breaching whale!
From Bean to Bar: A World of Flavor
Led by our expert guides, dive into cacao’s rich journey—from its ancient roots in South America to its thriving Hawaiian legacy. Taste fresh cacao fruit varieties, each telling the story of cacao’s global voyage. Then, uncover a well-kept secret: the rare, sweet nectar of the cacao fruit, cherished by its discoverers long before chocolate existed.
Hawaii’s Craft Chocolate Revolution
Immerse yourself in the most extensive craft chocolate tasting in Hawaii! Sample 10+ exclusive single-origin bars, each crafted from beans from farms around Hawaii. Learn the stories behind the beans—the farmers, their sustainable practices, and the meticulous techniques that transform humble seeds into extraordinary chocolate. As the world dubs Hawaii “the Napa Valley of Chocolate,” this is your front-row seat to the revolution.
Sweet Extras
Savor seasonal fruits from our orchards and sip house-made brewing chocolate as you indulge in unlimited chocolate samples. After the tasting, wander through our cacao groves, snap photos of the lush landscape, or browse our curated farm shop. Take home artisanal treats like vanilla beans, small-batch teas, and handmade soaps—all crafted by local collaborators.
Experience the magic of cacao. Family-owned, farm-to-bar, and unforgettable.
Highlights
- Honolii Orchards offers an intimate experience where guests have ample time to take photos, explore the farm, relax in the tasting room, and make purchases without feeling rushed. Unlike many tour operations in Hawaii that hurry their guests through, we provide a uniquely unhurried experience—a breath of fresh air in a beautiful and serene setting.
- We also serve as a genetic bank, housing cacao varieties that are not commonly found. This allows guests to explore both the flavors that captivated ancient Mesoamericans and the new flavors from modern genetic varieties that drive the contemporary craft chocolate movement.
- Driven by rigorous science, we are not just a commercial farm and tour operation but also a public research enterprise. Currently, we are participating in five active research projects and are specially equipped to support ongoing research as our orchards mature. All research published using data from our farm will be publicly available, benefiting farmers worldwide.
