Award Winning Farm Tour: Coffee, Chocolate and Unique Gifts

A Kona coffee and chocolate farm tour with a view.

From 1,200 feet above Holualoa, you start with Pacific Ocean panoramas and a sense of how volcanic soil shapes what you’re about to taste.

This is a guided walking tour that mixes farming, flavors, and hands-on product education. You’ll get chocolate and coffee tastings made on site, plus a look at the soap-making side of the operation.

One possible drawback to plan around: the tour is not ideal for young kids, and it can run with up to 30 people, so it may feel busier than the small-group tours you might be picturing.

Kona Views, Coffee, Cacao, and Soap in One 3-Hour Stop

If you like tours that feel like you’re visiting real people, you’ll probably enjoy this one. I especially like how the guides bring the farm to life with stories you can connect to what grows there. In many tours, the host vibe comes from Greg Colden and other team members like Marty Corrigan, with staff such as Paul and Nancy showing up throughout.

Second, I like the way tastings and demonstrations are built into the experience. You are not just looking at plants, you’re sampling coffee and chocolate from the same ecosystem you just walked through, then seeing how that “natural products” philosophy continues with soap.

Here’s what to consider before you go: there are plant scents in the factory area, and they are described as plant-based (lavender and similar sensitivities are mentioned). Also, the tour is not recommended for travelers under 12, and the operator asks that kids stay supervised so the group can enjoy the tour.

Quick Hits: What Makes This Tour Worth Your Time

• 1,200-foot views over Kona and the Pacific help you understand why this farm exists here
• A guided walking tour through coffee and cacao plants, not a drive-by show
• On-site tastings of coffee and chocolate made at the farm
• A behind-the-scenes look at natural soap making in their factory setting
• A gift shop with homemade souvenirs and farm-made products
• A max group size of 30 travelers, which can be lively

Pacific Ocean Panoramas at the Start, Then It Gets Practical

Your tour begins at 78-6749 Mamalahoa Hwy in Holualoa, and you’ll feel the setting before you even get into the farming talk. The farm sits about 1,200 feet above Kona, so the first stop gives you a wide view across the coastline. It’s the kind of view that makes you pay attention, because you can actually picture how the air, sun, and slope might affect plants.

On the way in, you also catch glimpses of Hualālai, the dormant volcano that rises above the area. That matters because volcanic soil is not just a trivia point here. It’s tied to why the farm can grow the crops it grows. If you’ve been to Hawaii before, you know the island has “evidence” everywhere. This is one of those tours where you get to connect that evidence to something you can taste later.

You’ll also pass through rainforest-like areas with tropical plants. It makes the start feel like a nature walk, but don’t expect a long hike. This is a walking tour with stops and explanations, and you should plan to be on your feet at least part of the time.

The Walking Tour Through Kona Coffee and Cacao

The core of the experience is a guided walk through the coffee and chocolate plantation areas. The highlights are straightforward: you learn the basics of farming, you hear about the challenges of doing it on the island, and you get a feel for how the farm’s approach connects to the end products.

What I like about this structure is that it moves in a logical flow. You start with setting and farm basics, then you go into the plants. After that, it transitions into tasting and demonstrations. It keeps the tour from turning into either a lecture-only experience or a pure sales pitch.

In the reviews, the consistent theme is how much personality the guides bring to the walk. People specifically mention Greg Colden as funny, engaging, and entertaining, with a tone that makes it easy to ask questions. Guides like him also tend to explain more than one version of a topic. You’ll hear about the farming process, but you also get the practical side of why things are done a certain way on Big Island.

Still, it’s good to calibrate expectations. This is not presented as a lab-grade, coffee-only agronomy course. It’s a farm tour that treats coffee and cacao as part of the same working property, and then ties in the soap manufacturing side.

Coffee and Chocolate Tastings That Feel Connected to the Farm

The tastings are not an afterthought. They’re one of the reasons this tour is so often described as worth the money. You have a chance to taste chocolate and coffee made on site, and the taste is tied directly to what you just learned while walking through the farm.

Here’s why that matters for you: if you want souvenirs that are actually tied to a place, tastings beat generic “look what I bought” shopping. It also helps if you’re picky. Coffee drinkers can gravitate to the coffee side, and cacao fans can focus there. Even if you’re not sure you’ll like either, you should still go hungry enough to notice differences.

From the reviews, the tastings often come as a pleasant surprise, not just small samples thrown your way. People mention getting samples like coffee and chocolate nibs, and they usually highlight that the flavors are high quality.

One more practical note: this is a walking tour that includes a factory stop. If you’re sensitive to scents, the operator notes that scents you might smell in the factory are described as entirely plant based, unless you have allergies to certain plants such as lavender. If that’s you, consider bringing your own plan, like asking before you arrive if the factory area will bother you.

The Soap-Making Factory Visit, and Why It’s More Than an Add-On

The tour includes a look at their soap-making process, and that’s where this experience becomes more than a coffee-and-cacao outing. Multiple people in the feedback specifically mention a soap making demonstration, and they talk about the products as gentle and high quality.

You’ll get a factory-style view of how their natural soap concept becomes real. That matters if you care about ingredients, because this is one of those tours where you can ask questions that connect farm life to product decisions. It’s also a chance to see how the farm’s “natural” approach shows up beyond food.

One helpful thing I’ve noticed in the reviews: people often say they switched to using the soap already because it feels gentle. Even if you don’t plan to buy much, it’s a useful stop because it gives your brain a full circle. You start with the plants, you taste the products, then you see how the soap side fits in.

If you’re hoping for only coffee, you might wish this part were shorter. But if you like a tour that includes how a working farm runs into a real product pipeline, this is one of the best value pieces of the whole experience.

What You’ll Shop for, and How to Think About Souvenirs Here

After the walking and tastings, you’ll have time to shop for unique homemade gifts and souvenirs. This is where a lot of tours lose points, because gift shops can turn into a rushed checkout line.

Here, the shop is tied to what you saw and tasted. You’re not just buying branded items, you’re buying from the farm operation you toured. Reviewers specifically call out the quality of soap, chocolate, and coffee, plus homemade gifts. Some mention items like ceramics as an extra bonus.

How I’d approach shopping if you want to get value: decide your “must buys” before you enter the store. If you’re traveling with limited luggage, set a budget for items that are easiest to pack, like chocolate or coffee. If you care about skincare, focus on the soap options they showed in the demonstration.

Also, if you’re comparing prices on the island, remember that this tour price includes tastings and the guidance. When you buy products here, you’re paying for the farm story you just learned, plus the on-site access and the quality people keep praising.

Timing, Meeting Point, and Getting There Without Stress

The tour runs about 3 hours. The listed opening hours show Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, so plan around that schedule. You’ll start and end back at the same meeting point at 78-6749 Mamalahoa Hwy in Holualoa.

Parking is free, but the operator asks you to drive cautiously when entering a rocky area. That’s an easy thing to miss when you’re used to easy parking lots, so slow down and take the approach carefully.

You’ll get a mobile ticket, and confirmation is received at booking. The tour is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, and the operator says the tour is easily accessible. It is still a walking tour, so wear supportive shoes, even if the pace feels moderate.

One more timing tip that helps: if you want the vibe to feel less hectic, arriving a few minutes early is smart. It gives you time to park, locate the start area, and settle before you hear the first explanation.

Group Size, Who It Fits, and Who Should Skip It

This experience has a maximum of 30 travelers. That’s not a deal-breaker, but it does affect the feel. If you prefer very small groups where questions get immediate individual attention, you may want to compare with other options. Still, many reviews describe lively discussions and lots of chances to ask questions, so the guide style seems to work even when the group is larger.

Age guidance is clear: the tour is not recommended for travelers under 12. Families are asked to keep children supervised and guided during the tour. If there are frequent disruptions, families may be asked to step aside or vacate the property so everyone can enjoy the experience.

So who is a great fit?

• Adults or older teens who enjoy learning how food is grown and how products are made
• Couples who want a half-day activity with tasting and shopping baked in
• Solo travelers who like guides who tell stories and keep the pace friendly
• People who care about natural, organic-style products and want to ask real questions in person

Who might not love it?

• Anyone who wants only a coffee farming lesson, with no cacao or soap element
• Anyone with strong sensitivities to plant scents in the factory environment
• Families with young kids who can’t reliably stay focused for the length of a guided tour

Value for $50: What You’re Really Paying For

At $50 per person, the big question is whether you’re getting more than a “tasting and walk” that could be cheapened elsewhere.

Here’s how I see the value stack:

• You get the guided walking tour of a working coffee and chocolate plantation at a scenic elevation
• You get on-site tastings of coffee and chocolate made on the property
• You get the soap making demonstration, which expands the experience into product craft and ingredients
• You get shopping time for homemade gifts tied directly to the farm

Most importantly, the tour includes experiences you can’t replicate easily on your own without a lot of planning or without finding a separate soap workshop. The combination is what makes it feel like a true “one-stop” outing.

In the reviews, the price is repeatedly called worth it. People mention the quality of products they bought, and they also point out that the explanations were part of the appeal, not just the samples.

The People Matter: Greg Colden and the Farm Team’s Tour Style

A lot of the praise centers on the guide experience. Greg Colden is named again and again in feedback, described as personable, funny, and full of knowledge about farming and sustainability on Big Island. People also mention that he answers questions and keeps the mood light, even while covering serious topics.

Other names show up too. Marty Corrigan appears as an owner or host in multiple accounts, and staff members like Paul and Nancy are mentioned as friendly and involved.

I like that this isn’t portrayed as a script. It sounds like a real farm team sharing a real routine, and that tends to make tours better. You get the sense that the guide wants you to understand what you’re tasting and buying, not just check off a list.

Should You Book This Kona Coffee and Chocolate Farm Tour?

If you want one solid half-day activity on the Big Island that mixes coffee, chocolate, and natural soap, this is a strong choice. I’d book it if you like tours with a fun guide, meaningful tastings, and a shop where products match what you learned.

Skip it or choose carefully if you are mainly after in-depth coffee farming with no cacao or soap angle, or if you need a very quiet small-group format. Also take the age guidance seriously, since the tour is not recommended for under 12.

My final advice is simple: if you enjoy tasting your way through place-based food and you’re curious how a farm operation can turn into soap and gifts too, this tour fits the bill. Plan for a walking, tastings, and factory-style experience, and you’ll come away with both memories and items you’ll actually use.