New Westin Hapuna Beach Resort Features Multi-Million Dollar Upgrades

Get ready to oohh and aahh at newly renovated The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort. Just in time for the Big Island Chocolate Festival (April 26 – 27), Hawaii Island’s only Westin resort features the iconic Heavenly Bed, an all-new adults-only infinity edge pool, enhanced family pool area, reimagined guest rooms, suites, and so much more. Big Island Chocolate Festival guests …

$27,000 Awarded to BICF Beneficiaries

Proceeds totaling $27,000 from the 2018 Big Island Chocolate Festival (BICF) were awarded to five educational organizations at the event’s recent volunteer appreciation celebration at Island Lava Java. Beneficiaries will use their funds for a variety of projects: developing a cacao farming curriculum for the upcoming school year, enhancing a keiki gardening program, improving a mobile summer lunch program and completing a 1,000-foot facility expansion boasting …

2018 Big Island Chocolate Festival Names Winners

Chef WinnersA sold-out crowd of 675 attendees sprawled inside and out of the Hapuna Beach Resort for the seventh annual Big Island Chocolate Festival gala to benefit five island non-profits.The event theme, “Chocolate Around the World,” was depicted at culinary stations and Fairmont Orchid, Hawai‘i was tapped Best Decorated Booth with a giant revolving chocolate globe. The massive orb identified …

Jeannè Kapela, Miss Hawaii 2015, set to Perform at Big Island Chocolate Festival

We’re thrilled to announce that Jeannè Kapela, Miss Hawaii 2015 (and a local girl who graduated from Konawaena High School), will perform at our festival at the gala on Saturday, April 28. Jeannè, who is a Native Hawaiian performer and activist, was raised on a small coffee farm in Kailua Kona.Jeanné will perform four different dances, which you can only …

Mahalo What to Do Media for our New Website and More!

If you’ve noticed our beautiful revamped website, then you’ve experienced the work of our newest sponsor, What to Do Media (W2DM). Their hands-on team updated our website and transformed it into a modern, easy to navigate, mobile-friendly, search-engine-optimized site.  It was a simple and seamless process throughout the project, even post-launch with the training and support they provided, which allowed …

Clark Realty Corporation Cares for Hawaii Islanders and the ‘Aina

We’re pleased to share that Clark Realty Corporation (CRC) is joining us this year in supporting our five beneficiaries and the Hawaii Island cacao farming industry as one of our 2018 Event Sponsors. Founded more than 20 years ago by Putman “Putty” Clark, Clark Realty now has four offices in Hilo, Kailua Kona, Keauhou and Waimea, offering a full spectrum of …

Mahalo New Event Sponsor, Keauhou Veterinary Hospital

Voted Best Veterinarian for the past nine years, Dr. Jacob Head and his staff of Keauhou Veterinary Hospital (KVH), have seen my two cats, Peaches and Bang Bang, annually since they were in kitty diapers. In addition to regular check ups, KVH also provides: “Direct Airport Release,” Dental care Dermatology / parasites Nutritional Counseling Surgery Vaccinations Micro chipping Preventative Medicine …

The Spoon Shop Keeps Things Cooking!

The Spoon Shop has been our Big Island Chocolate Festival “spork” sponsor for many years now and we’re always grateful for their participation. Did you know that in addition to selling kitchen, cooking, baking and food items, The Spoon Shop also holds cooking classes?  Located in Kaloko on Kamanu Street, owner Tracy Ackerman recently opened “The Spoon Shop Demonstration and Teaching …

HCFCU Supports Community in Many Ways

After more than 80 years and five branches — Honoka’a, Kailua-Kona, Kaloko, Kealakekua, and Kohala — plus a new branch opening in Hilo, Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union continues its ongoing mission to support Hawaii Islanders. HCFCU offers college scholarships, promotes and participates in American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, raises money and donates to HOPE Services Hawaii, Inc. (its …

Mahalo Office Max — our Print Sponsor

When I introduced myself to Erik Walter, store manager of Office Max on Makalapua Blvd. in Kailua-Kona, I asked if OfficeMax would be the Print Sponsor for the Big Island Chocolate Festival. We have so many BICF items to print — signs, programs, “People’s Choice Award” ballots, banners and more — and every bit of money we can save goes …