Tickets to the Event

This is a farm tour off site (not at hotel). Tickets are for single or duo. 

Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory, Keauhou-Kona

Does chocolate grow on trees? Find out from Hawai‘i’s first homegrown chocolate company located in the Kona coffee belt on the slopes of Maunaloa. Enter a cacao orchard to see how teeny flowers and colorful pods grow up and down the trunks and branches of trees. Learn about harvesting, fermentation and how cocoa beans are kissed by the sun before they are processed during 

College Competition - FREE to attend - Think Master Chef for Culinary Students

12 pm - 1 pm – Best Practices for Cacao Fermentation by Dr. Nat Bletter, Founder of Madre Chocolate. Learn essential steps for proper cacao fermentation and its impact on flavor.  

1:15 pm - 2:15 pm – Taste, Tour, Thrive: Building a Sustainable Cacao Experience by Maddy Smith, Founder of Barefoot Chocolatini. Discover how to create engaging cacao tours and build a profitable, sustainable revenue model.  

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm – Growing Healthy Cacao: Controlling the Queensland Longhorned Beetle by Stacey Chun, HDOA Entomologist. Learn about this destructive cacao pest, its behavior, and the latest management strategies.  

3:45 pm - 5:30 pm – The Importance of Properly Tempering Chocolate by Stéphane Tréand, M.O.F. Patisserie. Understand why tempering is crucial for chocolate makers, with expert insights from a world-renowned pastry chef.

9:00-10:30 am: TBD 

10:45 am - noon: TBD 

12:15 - 2:00 pm: “Creating an Artistic Chocolate Showpiece” by world pastry champion Chef Stéphane Tréand, MOF Pâtissier Chocolatier and co-owner of Francium Chocolate.  

Chef Tréand is a virtuoso in the creation of an array of chocolate confections and striking sculptures, captivating attendees with his expertise. A highlight of the festival, his demonstrations offer a glimpse into the sophisticated techniques of molding and tinting chocolate to architectu

Reserved Tables are available - upon request within the VIP area

Open seating available outside for General Admission tickets.

VIP Ticket:  Reserved Seating, Limited indoor seating with a 3 pairing and tasting exclusive to this area ONLY (cannot be removed from the area to eat); Private bar with mocktail option. Doors open for VIP at 5 pm. Priority Access. Unlimited Wine & Beer and speciality pairings. Soda, Tea & Coffee are also available.

General Admission:  Access to the 15-16 Chef Booths, no re