Are you looking for the best things to do in Waikoloa, Hawaii? Keep scrolling to see how to tour the Hamakua Big Island Macadamia Nut Factory, which is a top Kona activity.
This guide to visiting a Big Island Macadamia Nut Factory 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.
If you’re looking for things to do on the Big Island of Hawaii with kids, then this is one activity you won’t want to miss.
The Hamakua Macadamia Nut Factory is a hidden gem on the Big Island. Here, they offer free macadamia nut tastings, an informative video presentation, as well as show windows where you can see a working macadamia nut factory.
This is one of the coolest free things to do on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Plus, they have an incredible store with all kinds of macadamia nut products and even island-made ice cream!
You will be able to tour a real macadamia nut farm Big Island offers just minutes from Waikoloa Resorts and get some of the best macadamia nuts in Hawaii! It doesn’t get much better than that!
Their prices are very reasonable, so don’t forget about them when it comes time to go souvenir shopping either…you’ll be glad you did! Oh yeah…and there are always FREE samples too!!
Keep scrolling to read my full guide to visiting a Big Island macadamia nut factory in Hawaii!
Don’t have time to read a bunch of Hawaii blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting the Big Island.
Popular Big Island Tours/Activities
- Manta Ray Snorkeling Tour (you can ONLY do this on the Big Island)
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Tour (this is the BEST way to see lava if you aren’t renting a car)
- Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour (this is a cool adventure for teens and adults)
- Swim with Dolphins (this is a unique experience for kids of all ages and adults)
- Kona ATV Tour (we love this one because they also do cultural activities)
- Book a Photo Shoot (this is a Hawaii souvenir you’ll treasure forever)
Favorite Big Island Resorts/Hotels
- Hilton Waikoloa Village (this is a mega resort where you can swim with dolphins or just enjoy their massive pool area)
- Courtyard by Marriott’s King Kamehameha Beach Hotel (this is a moderately-priced Kona hotel right on a little lagoon)
- Fairmont Orchid (this is a swanky resort with an awesome pool area and beach)
Want to Rent a Car in Hawaii?
One of the best places to rent a car in Hawaii is Discount Hawaii Car Rental because they get the best rates from top national companies like Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, and Payless.
Want to skip all the planning and just access my detailed Big Island Itinerary complete with daily schedules, kid-friendly activities, and travel hacks? Click the button below.
Where is the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Factory?
The Hamakua Macadamia Nut Factory is located about 50 minutes north of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. The address is 61-3251 Maluokalani St. Kawaihae, Hawaii 96743.
I recommend using GPS to find it as it’s tucked away from the highway. Their sign by the road is also pretty faded, so it’s easy to miss.
What’s the History Behind Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company?
The Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company was founded in 1993. They use 100% locally grown Hawaiian macadamia nuts in their products.
This company is part of the Edmund C. Olson Trust II, which owns more than 1300 acres of macadamia nut farms. They have a focus on sustainability and conservation.
How to Visit this Big Island Macadamia Nut Factory
It’s pretty awesome that there’s a Hamakua Macadamia Nut Factory Visitor’s Center that is open to the public.
You can enjoy the visitor center and go on a Big Island macadamia nut tour with this incredible Hawaiian macadamia nut company.
Free Hawaiian Macadamia Nuts Tasting
As soon as we entered, Danette warmly welcomed us and ushered us over to the macadamia nut-tasting area. We got to try SO many yummy flavors like buttered rum, soy sauce, pumpkin pie, and more.
She put each nut into a little cup so it was easy for us to taste them. My 5-year-old loved the seasonal flavors (specifically the pumpkin pie one). I preferred the chili pepper ones because they had a little kick!
How to Crack a Macadamia Nut Activity
Right near the entrance, there are a couple of metal nutcrackers where people can try to crack their own macadamia nuts. It’s a fun activity, and my 5-year-old was able to do this easily.
Just remember not to actually eat the nuts. It’s a liability issue.
Self-Guided Hamakua Macadamia Nut Factory Tour
One of the highlights of visiting the Hamakua Macadamia Factory is getting to see the process of getting the products out on shelves. They have large showroom windows with labels, so you know what step of the process they are working on.
When we were there, they were adding labels to the cans of Hawaii macadamia nuts as well as the lids. My son watched this for about 10 minutes. The workers were so friendly and kept showing him exactly what they were doing.
It made this macadamia nut tour Big Island offers kid-friendly and quite amazing.
Hamakua Macadamia Nut Farm Video
After you watch the workers in the assembly line, you can sit down for a few moments and watch an informative video that shows the Hamakua Mac Nut farm.
The video is a little outdated, but the information is all really great, and we learned a LOT about macadamia nuts and how to tell if it’s ready to eat.
Hamakua Gift Shop
They have a really impressive gift shop filled with their own Hamakua macadamia nut items as well as other local Big Island products.
This is a great place to stock up on Big Island souvenirs to bring home to friends or family. We ended up buying extra Hawaiian nuts just to have on hand for the holiday season.
You’ll find anything from Hawaiian macadamia nut cookies, Kona Coffee, chocolates galore, and so much more.
Hawaii Macadamia Nuts FAQs
Nope. In fact, they are actually from Australia. The macadamia nut tree was brought to the Big Island in 1881 by William Purvis, a sugar cane plantation manager. Hawaii’s climate is perfect for growing the nut, and Hawaii is currently the #3 macadamia nut producer in the world, with various macadamia nut farms in Hawaii.
A scientist named John Macadam first classified the macadamia tree in the mid-1800s in Melbourne, Australia.
They work with more than 200 local Hawaii macadamia nut farms to get all the nuts they use in their products.
Yes, you will find some macadamia farms on Hawaii’s Big Island. The Mauna Loa macadamia nut factory is one of the biggest macadamia nut factories Hilo offers, while Hamakua is one macadamia nut farm close to Kona.
Macadamia nuts are generally good for you. They provide you with protein, fiber, antioxidants, and so much more. Flavored macadamia nuts, especially chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, aren’t as healthy but still a decent snack to enjoy.
Yes, they are tree nuts, as there are tons of macadamia trees all over the Big Island’s land. You can go on a Big Island macadamia nut tour to learn the macadamia nut history, see the trees, and get some free samples too!
Hamakua Macadamia Nut Farm Wrap Up
We thought the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Factory was a really fun stop on our drive around the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s a pretty short drive from Waikoloa and is one of the best macadamia nut factory Big Island offers.
If you’re heading back to Kona with kids, take the road leading up to Waimea. They have a really awesome playground where kids can get some wiggles out. Plus, the weather is much cooler up there if you need a break from the heat.
These Big Island macadamia nut farm tours are worth it for the entire family! From the free samples to the self-guided tour, this macadamia plantation is awesome! If you want a macadamia nut farm tour on the Big Island, Hamakua does not disappoint!
