Honolii Orchards - Hilo HI

Volcanoes aside, this was by far the coolest thing we did while visiting the Big Island. I learned so much valuable information, and enjoyed some amazing chocolate samples. Jude and Jessie were authentic, gracious hosts - you can tell they genuinely enjoy talking to people. Bonus points because most of their chocolate samples are vegan! Surprise - high quality chocolate does not need many ingredients to taste delicious. They’ve made a lifelong fan out of me.

We took the full Honoli’i orchard “Farm and Hawaiian Craft Chocolate Tasting Tour” recently and I have to say it was an incredible experience! Colin and Jude were so personable and passionate about educating our group and sharing their love of the cacao bean. We had no idea the effort and scientific processes that go into producing a single bar of chocolate, but after this tour we feel enlightened! The Honoli’i orchard grows the cacao beans, which is a very lengthy labor of love…..planting, pollinating, harvesting, fermenting and drying the beans before they are even at the stage of actually producing the chocolate. So interesting and educational! We sampled 14 different kinds of chocolate…... it was amazing the different flavor's you could detect….honey…..coconut…passion fruit……citrus blossoms…… creamy butterscotch and caramel and in complete contrast some chocolates were Smokey and spicy ….so many layers! We would definitely recommend this tour, no matter where you’re staying on the island, and no matter the weather! Best wishes Sheri and Kerry

What an amazing, and beautiful farm. Tucked away in the hills, it's a wonderful stop for any lover of chocolate. We met the owner Colin Hart, who let us wander the grounds before he turned the tasting over to his assistant Jude. So many wonderful flavors to sample and savor. Jude was so informative and friendly. We just can't say enough positive things about Honolii Orchards. Make the visit. You won't be disappointed.

The farm tour and tasting provided both a delicious deep dive into the realm of craft chocolate and a wealth of knowledge about the cacao industry. This chocolate heals the body. The holistic farming methods heal the planet. Being up in the mountains with no "worldly" distractions heals the soul. My husband and I left with a wealth of knowledge and a joyful buzz from all the amazing chocolate we sampled. If you love scenic farms, (real) chocolate, supporting local sustainable business, learning about where true food comes from, friendly people (and dogs), this tour is for you. Thank you, Wrenn and everyone at Honoli'i, for providing such an incredible experience and sharing the aloha spirit with us. We've already finished one of the bars we bought, and I will be stocking up on chocolate before we return home.

🍫 Unforgettable Chocolate Tour with Heart 🍫 This wasn’t just a tasting—it was a journey. Colin’s passion and deep knowledge brought cacao to life, from soil to soul. His story about keeping geckos in his pocket as a kid? Pure magic. I could instantly picture our daughter doing the same—curious, fearless, full of wonder. I was also glad to have found Mimosa Pudica also known Touch-me not plants all over. My childhood stories that I was able to share with her. Even geckos were beautiful distractions during our session. Such breathtaking, lush and quiet drive to the farm. It makes you dream of having to live there. The flavors were rich, the history deeper, and the experience felt like a love letter to the land. A must-do for families who savor stories as much as chocolate. Thank you, Colin & Jude for such great experience! Super duper highly recommend this to everyone who visit the Big Island of Hawaii!