Have you always wondered how macadamia nuts end up snack-ready and coated in all the best flavors? If so, it’s time to get on over to the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Co in Kawaihae. Their self-guided factory tour promises to give you the inside scoop on how all the magic happens. And the gift shop is the place to go when you want to buy macadamia nuts, chocolates, coffee, and so much more.
Upon arriving, take a moment to check out the three macadamia nut trees outside. Although they’re not their main producers, of course, (those are in Hilo) they start your journey into the world of mac nut production. After that, head inside to receive a hearty hello and invitation to start your self-guided tour. The place is small, so the tour does not take long at all. But it’s well worth enjoying while you’re there.
You’ll start by looking through the glass windows at all the machinery used in the factory. As their staff members go through the production process, you get to see how the nuts are taken out of their shells, roasted, flavored, and packaged up for sale. You can even try out the nut-cracking equipment to see the effort that goes into producing each bag of nuts.
After the tour, you can view the 15-minute documentary on the macadamia nut industry. In that film, you’ll learn even more about how the nuts come into the world and become the snacks everyone knows and loves. If you have any questions along the way, just ask a nearby staff member for their input. They’re all highly knowledgeable, so it’s easy to get answers to all your most pressing questions.
At the end of the self-guided tour, you’re free to ask for samples of their nut and popcorn flavors. They also have many Kona coffee varieties brewed up and ready to sip at your leisure. Once you’re done sampling all their best creations, go on a whirlwind tour of the gift shop. As you check out all their wares, you’re sure to find many excellent items to bring back as souvenirs. Just don’t forget to buy yourself lots of snacks for the road because your selections will end up calling your name sooner than later.
Check out their:
Chili Peppah Macadamia Nuts
As a part of their Island Flavors collection, the Chili Peppah Macadamia Nuts have a wonderful spicy flavor that pairs well with the lightly sweet nut. They’re not so hot that you cannot keep eating them, although you’ll definitely want to have a beverage on hand when you get a little overzealous. They only come in 10-ounce bags, so buy a bunch if you fall in love with their flavor.
Kona Coffee Macadamia Nut Brittle
Kona Coffee Macadamia Nut Brittle perfectly pairs sweet and bitter flavors while offering tons of crunch. They create this popular treat by melting down sugar until it reaches the hard crack stage. Then, they infuse it with pure Kona coffee and chopped mac nuts. After that, the infused sugar pours out onto the pan to set before landing in the 16-ounce bags.
Pina Colada Mac Nut Popcorn
For all the best tropical flavors in every handful, you cannot go wrong with the Pina Colada Mac Nut Popcorn. To create each batch, they pop fresh popcorn, mix it up with mac nuts, and then add coconut and pineapple flavors to the mix. The 10-ounce pouches don’t last long, so buy more than one, for sure.
If you’re craving mac nuts and more upon returning home, just go to their website to order your favorites. They’ll ship your selections straight to your door ASAP soon after you complete the checkout process. Their items are popular, of course, so they run out often. Thankfully, they restock soon after selling out. So, just keep checking back until your favorite items come back in stock.
Insider Tip:
Unless you have your own rental car, it’s quite difficult to get transportation to the factory. You can schedule your rideshare service ahead of time if needed or sign up for a spot on a tour bus.