KOHALA COAST, HAWAI‘I ISLAND—The delicious flavors and aromas of chocolate will
“Indulge the Senses” at the Big Island Chocolate Festival April 28-29 at the Waikoloa Beach
Marriott Resort & Spa. The “Indulge the Senses with Chocolate” theme marks the festival’s
10 the anniversary. In-person activities include culinary demonstrations taught by renowned pastry chefs for the professional chef, home cook, cacao growing and processing seminars by industry experts, a new VIP+ pre-gala Sunset & Pupu Pairing and a festive evening gala with culinary booths, chocolate fountain, entertainment, dancing, a silent auction and some surprises! Guests can enjoy unlimited wine, beer and a custom spritzer by Ola Brew, iced tea and coffee.
At the gala, a panel of invited judges and attendees will again vote on best sweet and savory
selections while culinary stations will vie in a contest for Best Decorated Booth to this year’s
sensory theme. A photo booth will provide fun, playful props geared to the “Indulge the
Senses” event theme.
“We are returning to our original gala format with chefs staffing sweet and savory culinary
booths,” says Stephanie Beeby, event chairperson. “This year we are debuting a VIP+
package with entry Saturday night to both a Sunset & Pupu Pairing prior plus VIP gala section
with table assigned seating and exclusive wine and beer bar.”
In its 10th year, the celebration of chocolate is presented by the non-profit Kona Cacao
Association (KCA). This year’s beneficiaries include Hawaii college culinary programs,
Hawaii Institute of Pacific Agriculture, Kona Dance & Performing Arts and Keahole Center for
Sustainability.
A general admission gala ticket is $99 while a VIP-PLUS ticket is $189. Also available are
specially priced event room packages at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort. Educational
activities and prices will be announced on the website. All event tickets are sold online and
additional tax and ticketing fees apply. Details: https://bigislandchocolatefestival.com/tickets.
Kona Cacao Association: The mission and goal of KCA is to promote the cacao industry on
the Island of Hawai‘i by presenting the Big Island Chocolate Festival as an educational and
outreach opportunity for local cacao farmers, the hospitality industry and cacao enthusiasts.
Visit http://konacacaoassociation.com. @BIChocoFest