Did you know that there are more types of farms to visit on the Big Island than just Kona coffee farms and macadamia nut orchards? It’s true! The Lavaloha Chocolate Farm is such a cool place to visit, and as far as a tour goes, it’s one of the coolest farm tours I’ve done anywhere. Lavaloha Chocolate Farm is what agritourism is meant to be. From cacao beans to different types of chocolate, you can see and TASTE the whole process. Take a look at what a day at Lavaloha Chocolate Farm is like and what you can expect to experience at this really cool Hilo farm heaven.
Have you had a cacao farm experience on your Hawaii bucket list? I know it may sound odd, but it’s kind of wonderful. The Lavaloha Chocolate Farm needs to make its way onto your itinerary for the Hilo side of the Big Island. If you have any questions about visiting the farm or building out your travel plans, please leave us a comment or send a note and we’ll help you out!
Highlights of Visiting Lavaloha Chocolate Farm
I have to say, my first visit to Lavaloha Cacoa Farm was with my best friend who is obsessed with chocolate. She could barely contain herself being surrounded by the cacao beans, the smell of chocolate with the drying facilities and then the chocolate tastings. If you’re a chocolate fan, this is for you. From the interesting, agritourism side of things, the Lavaloha Chocolate Farm tour is actually one of the best farm tours I’ve done.
Riding in a small electric open-air van around the property, you get to learn all about cacao as a unique crop and see the whole operation, from growing the trees to harvesting, separating the beans from the fruit to drying and roasting. I’m kind of a geek about these things, so I fully appreciated and enjoyed the learning experience.
Book the Lavaloha Farm tour here!
Tips for a Great Visit to Lavaloha Chocolate Farm
The property at Lavaloha Chocolate Farm is really beautiful, with Hilo below and Mauna Kea above. When you plan your visit, you’ll be able to schedule your guided tour time, but be sure you give yourself a buffer in your day to be able to spend a little time before or after your tour enjoying the grounds and the wonderful deck. If you rush yourself you’ll miss out on the vibes that make this such a great place to visit.
As far as my tips for the actual tour, I’ll tell you the same thing I tell my kids: listen intently, ask and answer questions, try the experiences offered to you (trying cacao fruit, trying nibs, participating in short activities…) When you allow yourself to just be a part of the guided experience you end up having the best time. You learn something and you get to walk away with a fun story and information to share with others.
Being Prepared for the Cacao Farm
To be ready for a day at the Lavaloha Chocolate Farm, make sure you’ve got sunblock on AND that you’ve got a light jacket. Being on the east side of the Big Island, you can expect rain to move in and out through the day, and when there isn’t rain it’s wonderfully warm. When you do the guided tour at the farm, you’ll be outside for most of it. The tour cart is covered and you make stops in covered areas, but for the most part it is a very exposed tour as you go about the property to the many cacao production and processing areas.
I think bringing a good camera is also a great idea. If the weather is nice, you’ll get some great photos of a really unique crop, cacao. The beans as they grow on the trees and the drying racks are really interesting as photography subjects, and I think you can get some cool shots.
Getting to Lavaloha Chocolate Farm
Getting to the Lavaloha Chocolate Farm will take you about 15 minutes from Hilo. On your way up the hill you’ll pass by several other farms of different sorts, and eventually you’ll get to Lavaloha. When you’re done visiting, you can enjoy some of the other stops in the area, including Wai’ale Falls or get a day pass of Kulaniapia Falls (privately owned and really cool). There are lots of wonderful things to do all around this part of Hilo. Be sure to check out our guide to Hilo for all the ideas and information.
Lavaloha Chocolate Farm Operating Info
To complete your planning, here is all the information to plan and book your adventure at the farm.
- Operating Dates/Season: Monday – Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Tour office phone number: 808-987-3649
- Company website: farm information
- Tour check-in address: 1820 Amauulu Road, Hilo HI 96720
- Tour booking links: Lavaloha Chocolate Farm tour here
More Hilo Things to Do
Hilo is a very fun and functional city. It’s very chill and the surrounding area is absolutely beautiful. Hilo serves as a wonderful home base for exploring both Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the area from Hilo up through the Hamakua Coast. There are plenty of scenic drives on the Big Island. You can easily enjoy the city itself, the beaches and the natural wonders all the way to the Waipio Valley and return to your stay each evening. Such a great hub. Here are my favorite things to do when we’re in Hilo.
- paddleboard on Hilo Bay or Reed’s Bay
- hiking at Akaka Falls State Park
- day trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- visit Lavaloha Chocolate Farm
- do the Onomea Bay Trail
- drive up Mauna Kea to the visitor center and observatories
- enjoy the Hilo farmers market
- drive up to the Hamakua Coast, stopping at Laupahoehoe Beach Park and all the farm stands
- BONUS: if there’s an eruption, visit Hawaii Volcanoes NP for lava glow
You can easily spend four or five days in Hilo exploring the east coast of the Big Island, but these ideas are a good start if you are limited for time.
More Hilo travel ideas:
Where to Stay in Hilo
When you’ve made your way to the east side of the Big Island, you’ll be able to choose where you want to stay, and that may not actually be directly in Hilo. There are lots of unique inns and bed and breakfasts from the town of Volcano all the way up the coast to Honokaa (such a cute town). I like to stay in Hilo proper as there are great biking areas and tons of great restaurants, but some people prefer a quieter atmosphere. Find a hotel or vacation rental below.
I hope you’ll consider doing the Lavaloha Chocolate Farm tour. It’s one of the best ways to learn about cacao and chocolate production and really shows off the beautiful world of Hawaii agriculture. If you have any other questions about Hilo or the Big Island of Hawaii, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a beautiful Hawaii trip. Aloha!
