Are you a total choco-holic and want to taste some Hawaiian chocolate on your next trip in the islands? Keep scrolling to find out the coolest Hawaii chocolate farms worth visiting.
This list of the best Hawaii chocolate farms to visit was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Look, I’m going to be honest with you.
Before I started taking my kids to chocolate farms in Hawaii, I thought it would be one of those tourist traps where you pay too much money to walk through a gift shop.
I was so wrong.
Hawaii is the only state in the US where cacao grows, and visiting these farms has become one of my favorite things to do when we’re in the islands.
My kids actually ask to go back to some of these places every single trip.
After visiting chocolate farms across four islands over 40+ trips to Hawaii, I’ve figured out which ones are actually worth your time and money.
Some are perfect for families. Others are better for chocolate lovers who want to geek out on fermentation processes.
Here are the 8 Hawaii chocolate farms I recommend, starting with my absolute favorites.
My Top 3 Hawaii Chocolate Farms (These Are Must-Visit)
1. Lavaloha Chocolate Farm – Big Island (Hilo)
This is the chocolate farm that made my 5-year-old say it was better than seeing lava. Yes, really.
Lavaloha sits about 10 minutes from downtown Hilo on 1,000 acres of gorgeous property.
They run tours 6 days a week (Monday through Saturday) and honestly, this is the most well-organized chocolate tour I’ve been on.
Here’s why we loved it: they offer both walking tours and bus tours on an electric vehicle.
With little kids, the bus option was a total lifesaver. No complaining about tired legs, and we got to see way more of the property.
Our guide Jess was amazing. She let us pick a fresh cacao pod right from the tree, cut it open, and taste the fruit inside.
The kids thought this was the coolest thing ever. The white pulp around the seeds tastes sweet and tropical, nothing like chocolate yet.
Then we went through their processing facilities and saw how they turn those bitter seeds into actual chocolate.
The tour ends in their chocolate lounge where you taste everything from cacao nibs to their finished bars.
Tour Details:
- Cost: $30 per person, $5 for youth ages 6-12, FREE for children 5 and under
- Duration: About 1 hour
- Schedule: Monday-Saturday, multiple times daily
- Hours: 9am-5pm
The property also has a collapsed lava tube they turned into a botanical garden with a duck pond, plus a secret waterfall you can only see on the tour.
Dress in layers because it’s at 1,000 feet elevation and can feel chilly even on sunny days.
I wrote a full review of the Lavaloha chocolate tour if you want all the details, but trust me on this one. Book it.
2. Lydgate Farms – Kauai
This is the chocolate tour that perfectly balances walking through a working farm with actually learning about chocolate, all while eating really delicious samples.
Lydgate Farms is a fifth-generation Kauai family operation on 46 acres near Kapaa.
When I say this tour is comprehensive, I mean it. You’re there for 3 hours, and you won’t be bored for a single minute.
The tour starts in their botanical gardens where you taste their award-winning palm-blossom honey and try whatever tropical fruits are in season.
Depending on when you visit, that might be rambutan, lychee, mountain apple, or about a dozen other fruits I’d never heard of living in the Pacific Northwest.
Then you walk through their cacao orchards and see the trees up close. They cut open a fresh pod so you can taste the fruit and seeds.
After that, you head to a covered pavilion for the chocolate tasting.
This is where Lydgate really shines. You taste at least 9 different chocolates, and they walk you through how to actually taste chocolate properly.
It’s kind of like a wine tasting, but way better because it’s chocolate.
My kids loved this tour because there’s a kids’ tent with activities if they get antsy during the tasting portion. Smart planning on Lydgate’s part.
Tour Details:
- Cost: $75 per person, FREE for children 12 and under
- Duration: 3 hours
- Schedule: Monday-Friday at 9am and 11am
- Minimum Age: 7 years old
One heads up: wear bug spray and long pants. It’s Kauai, which means mosquitoes are a thing. But honestly, the tour is so good that a few bug bites are totally worth it.
They also have a tasting room in downtown Kapaa (open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm) if you don’t have time for the full tour.
If you’re planning a trip to Kauai and want help figuring out your itinerary, check out my free 7-day email course on how to plan a trip to Kauai. It walks you through everything step by step.
3. Ku’ia Estate Chocolate – Maui (Lahaina)
Here’s what makes Ku’ia Estates different: you get both the farm tour AND the factory tour in one experience.
The tour starts at their chocolate factory in Lahaina, which is the largest chocolate factory in Hawaii.
Then they drive you up to their private 20-acre cacao farm in the foothills of the West Maui Mountains.
The farm tour is beautiful. You walk through rows of cacao trees (they have over 8,000 of them now), learn about harvesting techniques, and end with a 9-piece chocolate tasting in their treehouse pavilion.
Yes, a treehouse. The kids were obsessed.
Here’s something really cool about Ku’ia Estate: the building survived the Lahaina fires because it’s solar-powered and made of metal.
And they donate 100% of their net profits to Maui nonprofits. So your tour money is actually going back to help the community.
Tour Details:
- Cost: Varies (check their website for current pricing)
- Duration: Farm tour takes a few hours including drive time
- Minimum Age: 3+ for farm tour, 6+ for factory tour
- Factory Hours: Daily 9am-4:30pm
They also offer a separate “Chocolate Factory Experience” where you get a behind-the-scenes tour with the founder Dr. Gunars Valkirs. That one is $125 and includes a $25 gift card for their store.
The factory has a cafe, retail store, and bar if you just want to stop by without doing a full tour. They have live music on Fridays and Sundays.
For more Maui trip planning help, grab my Maui travel guide for families or my free 7-day email course on planning a Maui trip.
More Great Hawaii Chocolate Farms Worth Visiting
4. 21 Degrees Estate Cacao Farm – Oahu (Windward Side)
If you’re staying on Oahu, this is your best bet for a chocolate farm tour. It’s actually the only cacao farm on Oahu that offers regular public tours.
The farm is run by Michael and Maria Rogers, a retired military couple who bought the property in 2014 and decided to grow cacao. They’re incredibly welcoming hosts who clearly love what they do.
The 2-2.5 hour tour takes you through their farm in Kahalu’u, which sits at that magical 21-degree latitude where cacao grows best.
You’ll walk through their cacao groves, visit their beehives (they produce award-winning Kahalu’u Gold honey), and taste fresh cacao fruit.
My kids’ favorite part? The baby goats and bunnies. There are playhouses for kids too, which is genius because it keeps little ones entertained while parents are learning about chocolate processing.
The chocolate tasting at the end includes 6-7 different varieties, and Maria walks you through how to properly taste each one. She’s actually a certified Chocolate Sommelier.
Tour Details:
- Cost: Check website for current pricing
- Duration: 2-2.5 hours
- Schedule: Tours Tuesday 2pm, Friday and Saturday 10:30am
- Family-Friendly: All ages welcome
They provide ponchos if it rains and bug spray if you need it. Dress for walking on potentially muddy ground.
Book your 21 Degrees Estate tour
5. Mauna Kea Cacao – Big Island (Near Hilo)
This award-winning farm (they won Best Cacao at the 2018 Big Island Chocolate Festival) is run by John and Susan Basset, who started planting cacao trees during their vacations while they were still working as engineers in Colorado.
They now have about 1,400 cacao trees on 20 acres in Pepeʻekeo, which is about 15 minutes from downtown Hilo and right between there and Akaka Falls.
It makes a perfect stop if you’re driving the Hamakua Coast.
The 90-minute tour is thorough without being overwhelming. You walk through the orchards, cut open your own cacao pod, and learn about fermentation and drying processes.
The Bassets designed their own giant nutcracker contraption for cracking open pods, which the kids thought was hilarious.
You’ll taste cacao nibs (chocolate in its pure form – slightly bitter and nutty) and several chocolate samples.
The Bassets don’t make their own chocolate commercially, but other companies use their beans to make bars you can buy.
Tour Details:
- Cost: $50 per adult, $25 per child ages 5-17, FREE for under 5
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10am and 1pm
This is a working farm, so wear closed-toe shoes and be prepared for uneven, potentially muddy ground. It’s Hilo, so rain is always possible.
Book your Mauna Kea Cacao tour
6. Manoa Chocolate Hawaii – Oahu (Kailua)
If you want to see the biggest tree-to-bar chocolate factory in America, head to Manoa Chocolate in Kailua.
Founded in 2010 by Oahu native Dylan Butterbaugh, Manoa focuses on showcasing Hawaiian cacao and supporting local farmers. They source beans from farms across Oahu and the Big Island.
The factory tour is shorter than the farm tours (about 45-75 minutes) but super informative.
You walk through their production facility, see the roasting room, and taste nearly 30 different single-origin chocolates. Yes, 30. Pace yourself.
They also serve chocolate tea to cleanse your palate between tastings, which is a nice touch.
If you don’t have time for a tour, they offer free 10-15 minute complimentary chocolate tastings from 10am-5pm daily. No reservation needed.
Tour Details:
- Cost: $25 per adult (12+), $15 per child ages 5-12, FREE for 4 and under
- Duration: 45-90 minutes
- Schedule: Daily tours at 10:30am and some afternoons at 2pm
- Location: 333 Uluniu St, Kailua
Their tasting room transforms into a wine bar Thursday through Saturday from 5-9pm if you want to try chocolate and wine pairings.
Manoa also has cacao farm tours at their North Shore orchard (Kamananui Cacao Orchards), which is the most genetically diverse cacao farm in the world.
That tour includes the farm, fresh cacao fruit tasting, and extensive chocolate sampling.
Book your Manoa Chocolate tour
7. Honoka’a Chocolate Co. – Big Island (Hamakua Coast)
This family-run company makes hand-crafted chocolate at Kahi Ola Mau farm on the Hamakua Coast. The views from the property are stunning.
The farm covers about 1,000 cacao trees plus tons of other tropical produce – over 40 varieties of exotic fruit, 1,600 pineapple plants, avocados, bananas, coffee, turmeric, vanilla orchids, and different varieties of Hawaiian sugar cane.
Tours are $80 per person ($65 for children under 10) and include a deep look at their entire operation. You’ll see how they grow, harvest, and process everything.
One thing that makes Honoka’a stand out is their commitment to clean ingredients. Their chocolates contain no gluten, emulsifiers, stabilizers, soy, or GMOs.
The chocolate tasting is educational – you sample chocolates from different countries to experience how soil affects flavor, then taste their Hawaiian varieties.
Tour Details:
- Cost: $80 per person, $65 for children under 10
- Schedule: Check website for current tour times
8. Hana Gold Chocolate Farm – Maui (Hana Coast)
If you’re driving the Road to Hana, this is a great stop. Hana Gold was founded by Robert and Francine Frost in 1978, and they started producing their first “branch to bar” chocolate in Maui in the last few years.
The farm sits on the Hana Coast where the rich volcanic soil creates uniquely flavored chocolate. They only use environmentally friendly processes and their cacao is naturally fertilized.
Hana Gold is smaller and less touristy than some of the other farms on this list. Tours are available by appointment, so you’ll need to email or call ahead.
Tour Details:
- Contact: info@hanagoldmaui.com or call Monday-Saturday
- Location: Hana Coast, Maui
Quick Comparison: Which Hawaii Chocolate Farm Tour Should You Choose?
Best for Families with Young Kids: Lavaloha (bus tour option, short duration) or 21 Degrees Estate (baby goats and playhouses)
Best for Serious Chocolate Lovers: Lydgate Farms (most comprehensive tasting) or Manoa Chocolate (30 samples!)
Best for Learning the Whole Process: Ku’ia Estate (factory + farm tour) or Honoka’a Chocolate Co.
Best on a Rainy Day: Lydgate Farms or Ku’ia Estate (both have covered areas)
Most Convenient to Major Cities: Manoa Chocolate (30 min from Honolulu) or Mauna Kea Cacao (15 min from Hilo)
Other Chocolate Experiences in Hawaii
If you’re short on time or have really young kids who can’t do a full tour, here are some alternatives:
Mauna Loa Visitor’s Center (Big Island, Hilo): This macadamia nut factory specializes in chocolate-covered macadamia nuts.
They have tons of varieties like dark chocolate, sea salt caramel, milk chocolate coconut, and milk chocolate toffee. It’s a great spot to pick up Hawaii souvenirs. Visit their website
Lydgate Farms Tasting Room (Kauai, Kapaa): Can’t do the 3-hour tour? Stop by their downtown Kapaa tasting room Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm for free samples and to buy their products.
Manoa Chocolate Free Tastings (Oahu, Kailua): Drop in anytime during open hours for a complimentary 10-15 minute guided tasting. No reservation needed.
Where to Buy Hawaii Chocolate Online
Can’t make it to the farms? You can order directly from many of them:
- Mauna Loa macadamia nut chocolates
- Big Island Candies (some of the best chocolate in Hawaii)
- Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory (for fancy chocolate)
Planning Your Hawaii Chocolate Farm Visits
Here’s what I’ve learned after taking my family to multiple chocolate farms:
Book Early: Tours fill up fast, especially during peak season. Book at least a week in advance, sometimes more for popular farms like Lydgate.
Check the Weather: Most tours run rain or shine, but Hilo-area tours in particular will likely be wet. Bring a light rain jacket.
Wear Appropriate Shoes: Closed-toe shoes are a must. The ground can be uneven, muddy, or slippery. Leave the flip-flops at your hotel.
Bring Bug Spray: Especially for Kauai and Hilo-area farms. The mosquitoes are no joke.
Plan Around Meal Times: Many tours are 1-3 hours long. Make sure kids (and adults) aren’t hangry when you arrive.
Consider Age Restrictions: Some farms have minimum ages. Check before you book if you’re traveling with little kids.
Overwhelmed with Planning? If you’re trying to figure out which island to visit, where to stay, and how to fit in chocolate farms plus beaches, luaus, and everything else Hawaii has to offer, I can help.
I offer personalized Hawaii travel consultations where I create a custom itinerary based on your family’s interests and needs.
As a professional tourist who’s been to Hawaii 40+ times and a certified Hawaii Destination Specialist, I know exactly how to plan trips that work for families.
Why Visit a Hawaii Chocolate Farm?
Look, I get it. You’re on vacation in Hawaii. Do you really want to spend half a day at a chocolate farm when there are beaches and waterfalls calling your name?
Here’s why I think it’s worth it:
First, it’s educational without feeling like school. My kids learned about agriculture, fermentation, sustainable farming, and geography all while eating chocolate samples. Win-win.
Second, it’s a great rainy day activity. And trust me, it rains a lot in Hilo and Kauai.
Third, you’re supporting local farmers and small businesses. These aren’t big corporate operations. They’re family-run farms working hard to grow quality cacao.
And finally, the chocolate is really, really good. Hawaiian chocolate has won international awards and competitions.
It’s some of the finest cacao in the world because of Hawaii’s volcanic soil and perfect growing conditions.
Plus, you’ll have the coolest souvenirs to bring home. Forget the ABC Store chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. Get the good stuff from the actual farms.
More Hawaii Resources
Want help planning the rest of your Hawaii vacation? I’ve got you covered:
Island-Specific Guides:
- Oahu Travel Guide for Families
- Maui Travel Guide for Families
- Big Island Travel Guide for Families
- Kauai Travel Guide for Families
- Hawaii Island Hopping Guide
Free Email Courses:
- How to Travel to Hawaii Like a Pro
- How to Save Money in Hawaii
- How to Plan a Trip to Oahu
- How to Plan a Trip to Maui
- How to Plan a Trip to Big Island
- How to Plan a Trip to Kauai
More Hawaii Activities:
- Best Things to Do in Hilo
- Guide to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- How to Visit a Hawaii Pineapple Farm
- North Shore Kauai Food Tour
Want to hear more about Hawaii farm tours and agricultural experiences? Check out episode 7 of my podcast Hawaii Travel Made Easy: Best Farm Tours and Agricultural Experiences.
Ready to Visit a Hawaii Chocolate Farm?
Start with one of my top three picks – Lavaloha, Lydgate Farms, or Ku’ia Estate. You honestly can’t go wrong with any of them.
And if you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to plan your entire Hawaii trip, I’m here to help.
Book a Hawaii travel consultation and I’ll create a personalized itinerary that includes chocolate farms, beaches, kid-friendly restaurants, and everything else you need for an amazing vacation.
Now go book that chocolate tour. Your taste buds will thank you.
