Award Winning Farm Tour: Coffee, Chocolate and Unique Gifts

The best part of this Kona farm tour is that it is not only about coffee. You walk among coffee, cacao, fruit, and other plants, then follow the products into chocolate tasting and a soap-making workshop. Greg Colden leads much of the tour with humor and plain-spoken stories, while Marty, Paul, Christina, Nancy, and the rest of the team may add their own local knowledge.

I like the biodiversity focus and the chance to see a working small farm rather than only a polished tasting room. I also like the three-in-one format: coffee, chocolate, and natural soap, with handmade gifts waiting at the end. The main caution is that coffee may not receive as much attention as you expect, and the group can reach 30 people. If coffee farming is your only goal, this may not be the best match.

Key points to know before you book

• The tour begins high above Kona: At about 1,200 feet, you get broad Pacific views, glimpses of Hualālai, and a drive through rainforest.
• Coffee is only one part of the visit: Cacao, chocolate, biodiversity, and soap-making receive major attention.
• Greg Colden is a central part of the experience: His style is funny, personal, and full of stories about farming and island life.
• The tasting is paired with a working production visit: You sample coffee and chocolate, then see how natural soaps are made.
• The gift shop is a real part of the value: Expect homemade soaps, chocolate, coffee, ceramics, sprays, and other island or farm items.
• The group may be larger than expected: The stated maximum is 30 people, so this is not always an intimate farm visit.

A high Kona viewpoint sets the tone

Your trip to the farm starts with scenery. The property sits around 1,200 feet above Kona, giving you a wide view toward the Pacific Ocean. You may also see Hualālai, the dormant volcano whose old volcanic material helped create the soil used by farms in this part of the island.

The road passes through rainforest and tropical plant growth before reaching the farm. That matters because the drive helps explain the setting. You are not visiting an isolated factory dropped beside a highway. You are heading into a higher, wetter part of the Kona slopes, where elevation, rain, volcanic soil, and plant variety all affect what can grow.

The view is a bonus, not the entire activity. Weather can change quickly in the hills, and the tour requires good conditions. Still, the opening scenery gives the experience a strong sense of place before anyone hands you a cup of coffee or a piece of chocolate.

What you see on the walking tour

The main activity is a guided walk through the coffee and chocolate plantation. This is a working farm, so the point is not simply to pose beside coffee trees. You learn about growing conditions, the difficulty of farming on Hawaii Island, and the way a small operation uses different plants together.

The farm’s approach to biodiversity is one of the more useful parts of the visit. Instead of treating coffee and cacao as isolated crops, the tour connects them to the wider plant life on the property. That gives you a better idea of farming as a living system, not just a production line.

Expect stops rather than a long hike. You walk between areas, listen to explanations, and pause for demonstrations and tastings. Seating is available at the stopping points, which helps if you are comfortable walking but do not want to remain on your feet for three hours.

Greg Colden is often the main voice on the tour. His style is informal and theatrical, with jokes mixed into explanations about the farm, the land, and the work behind the products. That approach suits people who like a guide with personality. If you prefer a quiet, technical lecture devoted strictly to coffee, his storytelling may feel less focused.

Coffee gets attention, but cacao and soap share the stage

The tour title highlights coffee and chocolate, but you should arrive expecting a broader program. Coffee farming is covered, yet cacao and soap-making may take up as much or more time. Several parts of the experience connect the farm’s crops to finished goods, which makes the visit feel like three small tours joined together.

The coffee portion gives you context about Kona coffee and the challenges of growing it on the island. You also get to taste coffee made on site. One especially useful feature is the chance to compare your general idea of Kona coffee with a product made by the farm itself.

The cacao portion is more hands-on in spirit. You learn about the crop and the process that leads to chocolate, then taste chocolate and cacao nibs. For many people, this is the most memorable tasting because it shows how a farm product changes from plant to food.

The soap workshop adds an unexpected turn. Kona Natural Soap produces handmade soaps and other plant-based products, and you get to see how that side of the business works. The scents in the factory are described as plant-based, though anyone with a particular plant allergy should take care.

This is also where the tour becomes more personal. The farm is not only producing ingredients for a visitor sample. It is making goods that you can use at home, including soap, sprays, coffee, and chocolate. The connection between land, workshop, and shop is easy to understand because you see the steps in one visit.

Tasting coffee and chocolate on the property

The tastings are included, and they help justify the price beyond the walk itself. You sample coffee and chocolate made at the farm, with the guide explaining what you are tasting and how the products fit into the operation.

I like this format because it keeps the tour grounded. You are not only hearing about farming in the abstract. You can taste the result, then decide if the product suits you. A non-coffee drinker may still find the tasting worthwhile, though you should not book the tour if you want a full coffee-cupping class. The available information points to sampling, not an advanced tasting course.

Chocolate and cacao nibs are part of the experience, so chocolate lovers have a clear reason to choose this tour. The farm also produces soaps with a natural ingredient focus, which gives the shop more variety than a standard coffee stop.

The tasting is not a meal. Plan to eat before or after if you need breakfast or lunch. The listed tour runs for about three hours, from 9:00 a.m. to noon on the stated Tuesday schedule.

The gift shop can change the value equation

The final shopping stop is not an afterthought. You can browse homemade soaps, coffee, chocolate, essential sprays, ceramics, and other farm or island gifts. That makes the visit useful if you want small presents that feel connected to the place rather than generic souvenirs.

The soap is a particularly practical purchase. It is light, easy to pack, and can be reordered online, according to the tour information. A flat shipping charge of $15 to a United States address is also noted for orders, regardless of size, though you should confirm the current arrangement before buying with shipping in mind.

The shop can also affect your budget. The tour costs $50 per person, and it is easy to spend more once you see products you cannot find elsewhere on the island. I see that as a strength if you value small-batch goods, but it is worth deciding in advance how much room you have for purchases.

For me, the shop adds value because it lets you take home something tied to the farm’s work. You are not paying only for a scenic walk and a few samples. You are also getting access to products made by the same people explaining the process.

How the three-hour format feels

Three hours is enough time to cover the farm, tastings, soap-making, and shop without making the visit feel rushed. It is also long enough that you should choose it because you care about the full story, not because you only want a quick coffee sample.

The walking is described as manageable, with no great distances and places to sit at stops. The property is easily accessible, and free parking is available. Take care when entering the rocky parking area, especially if you are driving a rental car.

The maximum group size is 30. That is a reasonable size for a popular small business, but it does not guarantee a quiet or personal experience. You may need to stand where you can hear, and questions may take time in a larger group. On the other hand, the tour encourages questions, and the staff appear to share the work of speaking and demonstrating.

Children under 12 are not recommended. Families who do bring children must keep them supervised and guided throughout the visit. If disruptions continue, the family may be asked to step aside or leave the property, so this is better suited to adults and older children who can stay engaged.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part. If you need to book more than six people, contact the provider rather than assuming the online booking will handle the entire group.

Picking the right day and planning the booking

The supplied schedule lists Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to noon, covering the period from April 28, 2022, through March 4, 2027. Some tour information also refers to longer Thursday tours, so I would confirm the current day and length directly before building your Kona plans around it.

The activity is often reserved well ahead, with an average booking lead time of 53 days. That is a useful warning for a small operation with limited weekly hours. If this is important to your trip, book early instead of assuming you can fit it in after arrival.

The meeting point is 78-6749 Mamalahoa Highway in Holualoa. The activity ends back at that location, so allow time for the drive to and from your lodging. The address places you above Kona in the coffee-growing area, not in the center of town.

Mobile tickets are accepted, and the tour is offered in English. Confirmation is provided at booking. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Late cancellations and changes are not accepted for a refund, while poor weather or failure to reach the minimum number of participants can lead to a new date or full refund.

Who will enjoy this farm experience most

I would choose this tour if you like meeting the people behind a product. Greg’s humor, the staff’s involvement, and the owners’ connection to the farm make the visit feel personal rather than corporate.

It suits you especially well if you enjoy:

• Coffee and chocolate tastings with background about production
• Small farms and biodiversity
• Handmade soaps and natural plant-based products
• Scenic drives and views above Kona
• Practical souvenirs you can eat, use, or give as gifts
• Guides who tell stories and invite questions

I would think twice if you want a specialized coffee lesson. The farm does cover coffee, but the visit also gives major time to cacao, chocolate, soap, and the wider farm. A coffee-only enthusiast may prefer a tour focused more narrowly on coffee cultivation and processing.

I would also consider the group size. The 30-person maximum is not huge, but it is much larger than a private farm visit. If personal attention is your top priority, ask about the expected group size before booking.

Is $50 a fair price?

At $50 per person, the tour is priced above a simple plantation walk but below many full-day Big Island excursions. The value comes from the combination of several elements: scenic access to a Kona farm, a guided walk, education about coffee and cacao, tastings, a soap-making demonstration, and the chance to browse handmade goods.

I think the price is fair if you use the whole experience. Someone who only wants to taste coffee may find it expensive. Someone who wants to understand the farm, sample coffee and chocolate, see soap production, and take home distinctive products is getting a fuller package.

The three-hour duration also helps. You are not paying for a rushed 45-minute stop. Still, purchases are extra, and the gift shop can tempt you to spend beyond the admission price. I would treat the shopping as optional, not as part of the cost calculation.

My call: book it if you want the whole story

I would book this tour for an adult-focused Kona morning, especially if you want more than coffee trees and a quick sample. The mix of farm walking, Pacific views, cacao, chocolate, soap-making, and handmade goods gives you a better sense of how a small island business works.

Book it with the right expectations. This is not a pure coffee seminar, not a private tour, and not a child-centered activity. It is a personable, three-hour visit built around Greg Colden and his team, with plenty of humor and several products to taste or buy.

If you like farms, small businesses, useful souvenirs, and guides who make technical subjects entertaining, the $50 price is a sound use of a Kona morning. If you want only serious coffee instruction, choose a more focused coffee experience instead.

FAQ

Where does the farm tour begin?

The meeting point is 78-6749 Mamalahoa Highway in Holualoa, Hawaii. The tour ends back at the same location.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours. The stated Tuesday session runs from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

What is included in the tour?

You take a guided walking tour of the coffee and chocolate farm, taste coffee and chocolate made on site, learn about soap-making, and have time to shop for handmade gifts and souvenirs.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $50 per person.

What products can I buy at the farm?

The shop offers handmade soaps, coffee, chocolate, essential sprays, ceramics, and other farm or island gifts.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The experience is not recommended for children under 12. Children who attend must remain supervised and guided throughout the visit.

How large can the group be?

The maximum group size is 30 people. If you need to book more than six people, contact the provider.

Is parking available?

Yes. Free parking is available, but you should drive cautiously when entering the rocky parking area.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants may result in another date or a full refund.