Honoli'i Orchards
Activities (2)
Hawaiian Craft Chocolate Tasting
Experience the most comprehensive Hawaiian craft chocolate tasting Hilo offers at Honolii Orchards, a family-owned cacao farm perched on Maunakea's slopes with sweeping views of the Honolii River Valley and Pacific Ocean. This 1.5-hour journey into Hawaii's emerging role as "the Napa Valley of Chocolate" features over 10 single-origin chocolate bars crafted from beans grown across Hawaiian farms. The scenic drive up volcanic slopes winds past cattle pastures and historic macadamia orchards before arriving at an open-air tasting room where you might catch sight of breaching whales in the distance. Your expert-guided adventure starts with fresh cacao fruit tastings, revealing the sweet nectar that captivated ancient discoverers long before chocolate existed. Sample fermented cacao beans while learning the complete bean-to-bar process, then taste chocolate bars that showcase each farm's unique terroir and sustainable practices. The experience includes fresh cacao juice, house-made brewing chocolate, and seasonal tropical fruits like lychee, rambutan, mangosteen, and Surinam cherries grown right on the property. Between unlimited chocolate samples, wander through the cacao groves, capture photos of the lush landscape, or browse the farm shop featuring vanilla beans, small-batch teas, and handmade soaps from local collaborators. Honolii Orchards welcomes groups up to 23 people in an unhurried setting that gives you plenty of time for photos, farm exploration, and shopping. Perfect for families, this Hawaiian craft chocolate tasting Hilo experience welcomes ages 5 and up, making it an ideal educational food tour. Standard pricing starts at $65 for ages 5+, while the Deluxe Adult package ($230) includes 12 customizable chocolate bars to take home plus a 5% discount on future purchases. Located at 1533 Puia Road in Hilo, the farm requires 24-hour advance cancellation for full refunds. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time, and don't forget to use code WINTER20 for 20% off this unique Big Island chocolate adventure that perfectly captures why Hawaiian craft chocolate tasting Hilo has become such a sought-after experience.
Farm Tour and Hawaiian Craft Chocolate Tasting
At Honoli'i Orchards, their farm tour and hawaiian craft chocolate tasting Hilo offers an intimate exploration where scientific discovery meets pure indulgence on the Big Island. This isn't your typical rushed Hawaii tour operation—here, you'll find an unhurried journey through a working cacao farm that serves as a genetic bank, housing rare cacao varieties you won't encounter elsewhere. The beauty of this experience lies in having ample time to photograph the orchards, wander at your own pace, and settle into the serene tasting room without any pressure. You're not just sampling chocolate; you're discovering both ancient Mesoamerican flavors and the modern genetic varieties that fuel today's craft chocolate movement. During your 3.5-hour adventure, prepare for limitless chocolate samples, brewing chocolate, cacao nectar, fermented cacao beans, and fresh cacao fruit plucked straight from the trees. Seasonal farm fruits complement the chocolate tastings, while practical touches like water, sunscreen, bug spray, and umbrellas keep you comfortable throughout. What makes this farm tour and hawaiian craft chocolate tasting Hilo particularly special is its role as a public research enterprise—they're actively contributing to five research projects, sharing valuable data that benefits farmers worldwide through publicly available research. This comprehensive experience welcomes guests ages 9 and older for the educational and delicious 3.5-hour journey. Plan to arrive between 9:45 am and 10:15 am, as tours begin promptly at 10:15 am. Come prepared with closed-toe shoes, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, rain coat, and water bottle to stay comfortable during your farm exploration. Everything's included—all chocolate tastings, beverages, and protective gear—with only gratuities not covered. This scientifically-driven operation offers something refreshing: a beautiful setting where you can truly grasp the journey from cacao bean to craft chocolate while supporting meaningful agricultural research.