When you’re on the Big Island, on the slopes of Hualalai Mountain near the town of Kona visit the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory, a cacao farm and producer of fine artisanal chocolates founded by Pam and Bob Cooper in 1997. To witness how it's made, take a tour - on Wednesday and Friday mornings, for $25 per person ($10 for kids ages six to ten) - and see how the pods (above) are processed into beans and finally into many chocolate products. The company has won awards for their chocolate, and you´ll find it on meus in gourmet restaurants in Hawaii and beyond. A must is to browse in their shop and buy items from milk chocolate to high end dark chocolate. The packaging and bars have an "aloha spirit" with plumerias and colorful packaging making for great gifts and take-home remembrances of Hawaii.  

Read more in Tripatini contributor M'Liss Hinshaw´s post Hawaii Makes Chocolate - and It´s Delicious!

Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory