Our Mission
About the BICF
The Big Island Chocolate Festival, presented by the Kona Cacao Association, returns for 2023 with a cherished nod to its heritage format. We're thrilled to reintroduce chef booths, a highlight of our festival.
Dedicated to community impact, the festival continues its support local non-profits, who have included:
- Hawaii Institute of Pacific Agriculture
- Kona Dance & Performing Arts
- Keahole Center for Sustainability
- Hip-AG
The festival traditionally boasts an array of seminars, live demonstrations, a student chef showdown, and a cacao bean taste-off judged by industry professionals. Our vibrant gala fundraiser, complete with a silent auction, remains a staple. Funds raised are allocated to beneficiaries determined by annual applications.
Our mission at the Kona Cacao Association, Inc. is to cultivate the Big Island's cacao industry, making the festival an educational beacon for cacao farmers, the hospitality sector, and chocolate enthusiasts alike.
We invite you to join the Kona Cacao Association, standing with us to champion the Big Island's cacao community.
About the KCA
The Kona Cacao Association (KCA), established in 2011, is a pivotal organization on the Big Island of Hawai'i, dedicated to nurturing and expanding the local cacao industry. At its core, KCA's mission is to foster the growth of Hawai'i's cacao sector by providing educational and outreach opportunities for local cacao farmers, the hospitality industry, and chocolate enthusiasts.
The KCA is renowned for organizing the Big Island Chocolate Festival, a flagship event that serves as a platform for education, networking, and showcasing the potential of Hawai'i's cacao. This festival not only celebrates the rich diversity and quality of local cacao but also acts as a catalyst for industry growth by bringing together cacao growers, producers, chefs, and chocolate lovers. The event helps in creating a unique brand identity for Hawaii Island Chocolate, synonymous with sustainability, fair trade, and superior quality.
A significant aspect of KCA's work involves collaborating with stakeholders to ensure the quality and marketability of cacao grown and produced in Hawai'i. By uniting members of the cacao community, KCA is striving to establish a structured approach that guarantees the future growth and success of this burgeoning industry.
Joining KCA opens doors to numerous opportunities beneficial for anyone involved in the cacao industry on the Big Island. The association invites enthusiasts and professionals to come together in a united effort to carve out a niche for Hawai'i in the global cacao and chocolate market.
In addition to the Big Island Chocolate Festival, the KCA organizes workshops, seminars, and competitions, like the 2022 Bean Submission competition, to further educate and inspire participants. These initiatives play a crucial role in fostering innovation and excellence within the local cacao community.
The Kona Cacao Association continues to be a driving force in shaping the future of Hawai'i's cacao industry, guided by a vision of sustainability, quality, and community collaboration. As they march forward, the KCA welcomes new members and supporters who share their passion for chocolate and commitment to the growth of Hawai'i's cacao industry.
Previous Beneficiaries
In addition to providing valuable education for local cacao farmers, the Big Island Chocolate Festival is a fundraiser for local non-profit organizations. In 2018, we donated $27,000 to five organizations and for 2019 and each year new beneficiaries are chosen to represent Hawaii’s communities:
• American Culinary Federation, Kona Kohala Chefs Association (http://www.konakohalachefs.org/) (www.konakohalachefs.org): The ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association members are industry leaders committed to culinary enrichments through professional development and education in our community. There are more than 50 chapter members, plus a College Junior Chef Chapter and a High School Junior Chef Chapter. The group includes food service professionals, vendors and growers. The ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association is a part of the American Culinary Federation.
• Hawaii Institute of Pacific Agriculture (HIP Ag) (www.hipagriculture.org): The mission of HIP Ag is to practice and teach ecologically conscious agriculture, empowering individuals and communities to cultivate alternative systems of living that restore human and environmental health. HIP Agriculture is a growing community that cultivates a diverse collection of Polynesian crops and operates as an educational site offering sustainable agriculture courses, youth programming, community workshops and events.
• Kona Dance & Performing Arts (www.konadanceandperformingarts.org): Kona Dance & Performing Arts strives to provide high quality instruction and education in dance and performing arts to the local youth and the Big Island community. Classes range from ballet to Hip-Hop, and feature adult dance classes as well.
• UH Maui College / Culinary Arts Program (http://maui.hawaii.edu/culinary/): The University of Hawai‘i Maui College inspires students to develop knowledge and skills in pursuit of academic, career, and personal goals in a supportive educational environment that emphasizes community engagement, life long learning, sustainable living, Native Hawaiian culture, and global understanding. Our charge is to prepare our students for success in life and career by providing them the foundational skills of our profession. We hope to inspire our students to celebrate the diversity of food and cultures throughout the world and elevate their knowledge and appreciation of culinary arts.
• Waimea Country School (waimeacountryschool.org): Waimea Country School sustains a developmentally appropriate teaching and learning environment in which the individual student is nurtured and supported to become an independent thinker, self-disciplined and self-reliant, yet always aware of the needs of others and the common good. Both playful and serious, the School’s program encourages each child’s creativity and resourcefulness, guided by skillful and dedicated teachers, enhanced by small class size.