Situated within the ahupuaa, or traditional land division of Kuai, in the district of Lahaina, the Maui Kuia Estate took shape ten acres at a time. This area was transformed into verdant green, by water flowing from the wao akua, which literally translates to the “realm of the gods” or the upper reaches of Mauna Kahalawai, also known as the West Maui Mountains.
Today, the farm features over 8,000 trees and spans over 20 acres with plans in the works to expand to more than 60 acres within the next few years. The Hawaii Farm Project, which is behind this endeavor, is also responsible for other wildly popular tours such as the Maui Distillery Tour, the Maui Pineapple Tour, and the Maui Bee Tour in Lahaina. The farm partnered with Kuai Estate Chocolate company to create the Maui Chocolate Tour, which is a one-of-a-kind tour experience created in 2019.
If you love chocolate, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t? You will thoroughly enjoy the various tours offered on the estate. Your first option is the Guided Cacao Farm Tour and Chocolate Tasting. The location is the Maui Kuia Estate Chocolate factory, which is the largest chocolate factory in the entire state of Hawaii. This 1.5-hour tour for ages 3 and up is a guided tour that begins with your guide driving you into the private cacao estate, featuring over 20 acres of cacao trees. During this interactive and educational tour, you will be allowed some hands-on harvesting experience. Your day will conclude with an exclusive 9-piece tasting experience of this award-winning chocolate.
Another tour option you can enjoy is the Maui Chocolate Tasting at the Kuia Factory Pavillion. This has a duration of sixty minutes and allows you to enjoy amazing 360-degree views. You can see the surrounding area from the open-air pavilion, located on the second story. Then, you will be sent through three chocolate-making areas guided by founder and CEO Gunars Valkirs via narrated video. During this educational tour, you will learn why our bodies are actually designed to enjoy chocolate and know it’s not just your imagination! You will also learn how best to pair chocolate with beverages.
Part of the experience will include tasting some of this superbly divine chocolate for yourself as you learn about the chocolate-making process that takes chocolate from farm to factory. This tour does not include a visit to the farm.
The final tour option you can try is the weekend tastings Chocolate Laulima tour. This lasts one hour and is only on the weekends. All proceeds for this tour are given to the nonprofit organizations that are part of the Chocolate Laulima program. As part of this tour, you get to enjoy the beautiful 360-degree views from the second-story pavilion and are also given the video tour by the founder and CEO Gunars Valkiers.
While there are most certainly countless things to do when visiting Hawaii, guests claim making a stop for a Maui Chocolate Tour is well worth the time investment. Guests rave about the spectacular views you can enjoy from the pavilion and talk about how delicious the chocolate is and how interesting it was to learn about how it was all made. They also say the staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable and that the experience overall is well worth a visit.
Don’t forget to stop in and visit the Maui Kaia Estate Chocolate Store and Cafe as well when taking your tour. Here you can purchase cafe treats, gifts, and even chocolate bars that make the best treats to take back home to your friends and family or keep for yourself we won’t tell! You can also try some of the brand’s delicious drinks including hot chocolate and chocolate milkshakes. Enjoy dessert options such as fudge brownies, chocolate mousse cake, kuia chocolate chunk cookie, and more. You can also choose samples of various chocolate flavors in-store only, in five or nine square options.
Insider Tips:
-The Maui Chocolate Tour is not ADA accessible.
-There is free parking available on Kupuohi St, on the side of the chocolate factory.
-You can order from Maui Kuia Estate and have merchandise, chocolate, and more shipped directly to you. You can enjoy free domestic expedited shipping on all orders of $100 or more. All applicable orders are shipped in insulated packaging.
-Maui Kuia Estate Chocolate also has its own chocolate of the month subscription box you can sign up for called the Kuia Club.