HAWAII CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL

» Place: The Shops at Dole Cannery, 650 Iwilei Road, Honolulu

» When: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday

» Admission: $20 in advance; buy tickets online at www.hawaiichocolatefestival.eventbrite.com. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $25. Tickets include 10 chocolate tastings.

» Entertainment: Guitarist Jeff Peterson and bassist Steve Jones, and Halau o na Pua Kukui

» Phone: 234-0404

» E-mail: hawaiichocolatefestival@gmail.com

» Website: www.hawaiichocolatefestival.com

 

PRESENTATIONS

» 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Dodi Rose of Dodi-Lishious Healthy Food with Flare demonstrates how to make vegan chocolate mousse.
» 2-3 p.m.: H.C. "Skip" Bittenbender, extension specialist for coffee, kava and cacao at the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, presents two half-hour talks: "Cacao 101: Seed to Pod" and "The History and Future of Cacao in Hawaii."
» 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Representatives from Madre Chocolate discuss "Chocolate: History, Tasting and Making, from Bean to Bar."

 

CHOCOHOLICS, TAKE NOTE

Places to explore local chocolate growing and candy making:

» Hilo Shark's Cacao Plantation: This plantation in Papaikou on the Big Island grows cacao, coffee, macadamia nuts and tropical flowers. Stroll the orchard, learn how chocolate is made and taste samples. One-hour tours available; $20, children free. Call 895-6600; www.konasharkscoffee.com.
» Menehune Mac: One-hour tours of the Honolulu factory are held at 10 a.m. Saturdays. Cost is $10, which includes the making of a six-piece box of candy to take home. Reservations required; 841-3344; www.menehunemac.com. Best times to view the production process are 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays.
» Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory: Located on the slopes of Hualalai Volcano on the Big Island. One-hour "Bean to Bar" tour covers the process from growing cacao trees to molding candy bars; includes samplings. Tours at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m. Fridays. Cost is $10 for ages 12 and older. Reservations required; 888-447-2626; www.ohcf.us.
» Sweet Paradise Chocolatier: See chocolates being made in the open kitchen of this shop at 75 Kupuohi St. in Lahaina, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Tastings of Hawaiian chocolates held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Cost is $20. Reservations required; 661-4764; www.sweetparadisechocolate.com.