Maui chocolate tour reopens at Maui Ku‘ia estate in Lahaina
KAHULUI—Following the impact of the Lahaina Wildfires in August 2023, Maui Chocolate Tour will reopen its immersive cacao farm experience this month. Guests can once again enjoy a captivating journey through the Maui Ku‘ia Estate cacao farm and the largest chocolate factory in Hawaii where tours are available daily. For $85, guests can book their guided cacao farm tour by visiting mauichocolatetour.com.
Led by an expert guide, visitors will be transported to the private cacao farm situated in the serene foothills of the West Maui mountains. Spanning more than 20 acres of lush cacao trees, the tour provides a comprehensive journey from “farm to bar” through the chocolate-making process. Engaging activities include interactive and educational sessions that showcase cacao tree insights, hands-on harvesting techniques, culminating in an indulgent and exclusive 9-piece tasting of Maui Ku‘ia Estate’s award-winning chocolates.
In addition to the farm tour, a new behind-thescenes offering will be launched called “The Chocolate Factory Experience.”
The 90-minute tour offers a look inside the Maui Ku‘ia Estate Chocolate factory and how Lahaina-grown cacao is turned into chocolate, led by Founder and CEO Dr. Gunars Valkirs himself.
With a rich history spanning back to the planting of the first cacao trees in 2013, Gunars has meticulously overseen every detail of the company’s growth, including the design and construction of the state-ofthe-art factory where their acclaimed chocolates are crafted today. Exclusive to VIP groups of chocolate enthusiasts, this 90-minute experience delves deep into the art and science of chocolate production, from bean to bar.
Guests will witness each step of the intricate process and savor samples from intermediate stages, not available for purchase elsewhere. Following the factory tour, guests ascend to an open-air pavilion for a self-guided tasting featuring three varieties from Maui-grown beans and a choice of four additional selections. Guests can enhance their tasting with optional alcoholic beverage pairings from the café menu, all while enjoying a continuous video presentation detailing the farm-to-factory journey. As a token of appreciation, guests receive a $25 gift card for use in the cafe or store, ensuring a sweet memory to take home from this delectable experience. For ages eight and up, patrons can book their Chocolate Factory Experience for $125 at mauichocolatetour. com. Every Sunday, a different Maui nonprofit will be featured for a special “Maui Nonprofit Chocolate Factory Experience.” 100% of the proceeds from the Sunday Factory Experience will be donated to a local Maui nonprofit.
“After months of working towards recovery in our community following the wildfires that devastated our beloved Lahaina town, I am excited to announce that we are now reopening the Maui Chocolate Tour with our partners at Maui Ku‘ia Estate Chocolate,” said Mary Britton, chief operating officer of Hawaii Farm Project. “We are grateful for the opportunity to reopen one of Hawaii’s most distinctive and enjoyable farm tours, as well as debut a brand new chocolate experience, made possible by the support of both the community and through the dedication of our incredible staff and guides.”
Maui Chocolate Tour is located at 78 Ulupono Street Suite 1, Lahaina, HI 96761. For more information, visit mauichocolatetour.com.