A decadent Hilo town gem where the real magic happens when you combine the local cocoa and coffee. The mochas—especially the Paniolo mocha with its subtle Mexican kick—and the banana chocolate smoothie are the absolute standouts here. It's a polished, cozy space that doubles as a gift shop and a cocktail bar, making it it's a great spot for a treat or a late-night drink. If you're looking for a quiet place to work with wifi, or if you want a traditional, minimalist coffee house, this isn't it.
the polished town cafe — go here for treats and cocktails, not the Holualoa farm tour
Not every branch is the same. Pick the one that fits the day.
Puna Chocolate Company was started in 2012 after Ben and Adam purchased a whopping 70 acres of land in a town called Pahoa, the county the seat of Puna District. In Pahoa, they encountered a fruitstand and discovered weird football-shaped squashes and asked the wonderful shop owner what they were. Not only did she proclaim that the that football "pods" were where chocolate came from, but also how to make chocolate by fermenting the cocoa beans inside. Having been raised on chocolate, it was a simple stretch from there that they could conserve the existing landscape in Puna by planting cocoa trees among the existing trees with minimal disturbance. Benjamin Vanegtern earned his Tropical Plants and Soil Science degree from University of Hawaii then went on to head the farming and planting operations across all cocoa farms. In 2016, Puna Chocolate purchased a 30 acre pasture to convert into cacao and in 2022, 20 more acres were added in Holualoa and Kainaliu which also include the 3,000 coffee trees which are the source of their cafe coffee.
- Hours
- Monday: 7:00 AM 10:00 PM
- Tuesday: 7:00 AM 10:00 PM
- Wednesday: 7:00 AM 10:00 PM
- Thursday: 7:00 AM 11:00 PM
- Friday: 7:00 AM 11:00 PM
- Saturday: 7:00 AM 11:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM 10:00 PM
- Phone
- (808) 489-9899
- Website
- punachocolate.com
- Address
- 277 Keawe St, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
Book a visit to the farm.
Cacao (and coffee) Tours and 4 Course Luncheons at the South Kona Farm.
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