Award Winning Farm Tour: Coffee, Chocolate and Unique Gifts

The most interesting part of this Kona experience is that it is three tours in one. You walk through a working coffee and cacao farm, taste products made on site, and then see how the property’s natural soaps are produced. Greg Colden leads much of the visit with humor, stories, and plenty of time for questions.

I like the way the farm connects food with biodiversity and sustainable growing. I also like the views: the property sits about 1,200 feet above Kona, with broad Pacific Ocean views and glimpses of Hualālai. The main thing to consider is that the tour may focus as much on cacao and soap as on coffee, so dedicated coffee fans may want a more coffee-specific farm visit too.

Key points to know before booking

• Three subjects in one visit: Learn about coffee, cacao, and the making of natural soap.
• A strong host: Greg Colden is known for his humor, personal stories, and clear explanations.
• Tastings are part of the value: You sample coffee and chocolate made by the farm.
• A scenic setting: The drive and property offer views of the Pacific, Hualālai, and tropical forest.
• The group may be sizable: The stated maximum is 30 people, not a tiny private tour.
• A useful gift stop: The shop carries homemade soaps, coffee, chocolate, ceramics, and other island-themed goods.

Arriving above Kona at 1,200 feet

The approach to Kona Natural Soap is part of the experience. As you climb above Kona, the view opens toward the Pacific Ocean. On a clear day, you can look down the coast from a high vantage point, with Hualālai rising behind the farm area.

The drive also passes through rainforest and tropical plant growth. This gives you a quick sense of how varied the Big Island can be within a short distance. Kona’s dry coast and the wetter upper slopes are not the same world, and the farm’s crops benefit from that change in elevation and climate.

The meeting point is 78-6749 Mamalahoa Highway in Holualoa. Free parking is available, but the approach includes a rocky area, so drive slowly and carefully when entering. That small detail matters if you are arriving in a rental car.

The official schedule provided for this experience lists Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The tour lasts about three hours and ends where it begins. Some tour information has referred to longer Thursday visits, so I would confirm the exact day and length before booking if your schedule depends on that detail.

Walking through a working coffee and cacao farm

The farm walk begins with the basics: how crops grow in Hawaii, how the property was developed, and what it takes to farm on island land. This is not simply a stroll past attractive plants. You get context about soil, weather, biodiversity, and the practical problems of growing crops in Hawaii.

Coffee and cacao need different care, and learning about both gives the walk more range. Kona coffee has a strong reputation, but coffee does not grow without effort. The farm setting helps you understand that the finished drink begins with a long process involving plants, climate, harvesting, and careful production.

Cacao adds another layer. The tour explains how cacao becomes chocolate, giving you a look at the crop before it reaches the tasting table. For many people, this is the more unexpected part of the visit. You are not just tasting a finished bar. You are connecting the flavor to the plant and to the work done on the farm.

The emphasis on biodiversity is especially useful. A farm is not only a collection of cash crops. It is also soil, insects, shade, companion plants, weather, and workers trying to keep the whole system healthy. Greg’s presentation brings those pieces together without turning the tour into a classroom lecture.

The walking is described as manageable, with regular places to sit when the group stops. Still, you should expect to be outdoors and on a farm rather than on a paved museum route. Comfortable shoes, sun protection, and water make sense, even though the supplied information does not specify a required dress code.

Coffee and chocolate made on site

The tasting is one of the clearest reasons to pay for this tour. You get to try coffee and chocolate made by the farm, rather than hearing only a general explanation of how the products are made.

The coffee tasting can be a pleasant surprise even if you are not normally a coffee drinker. The flavor is easier to understand when you have just seen the plants and heard about the growing process. You can also ask questions while the product is in front of you, which gives the tasting more purpose than a quick sample at a shop counter.

Chocolate tasting includes chocolate and cacao nibs. The nibs are especially helpful for understanding where the flavor begins before sugar and other ingredients change the taste. If you enjoy food tours, this hands-on part will likely be more memorable than a long talk about processing.

The samples also help you judge the products before buying. That matters because the gift shop is a real part of the visit, not just an afterthought. You can taste first, then decide if the coffee or chocolate is worth packing home.

The unexpected soap-making visit

Kona Natural Soap gives this experience its unusual twist. The tour includes a look at the soap-making operation, with an explanation of how the farm’s natural soaps are produced.

This section may be the highlight if you care about plant-based products, low-chemical living, or small-batch goods. The scents in the factory are described as plant based unless you have an allergy to a particular plant, such as lavender. If you are sensitive to scents, keep that in mind before booking.

The soap demonstration also shows how a small farm business can use more than one crop or product line. Coffee and chocolate bring people to the property, but soap, pottery, and other handmade goods help support the wider operation. That makes the visit feel more personal than a standard plantation stop.

Several products are made with an eye toward gentle, natural use. You can learn about the process and then shop for soaps or essential sprays. The tour does not require you to buy anything, but the products are clearly part of the farm’s identity.

Greg Colden and the human side of the tour

Greg Colden is central to the tone of this experience. His style is informal, funny, and full of personal stories. He also encourages questions, which helps keep the three-hour visit from feeling like a fixed speech.

The team includes Marty, Paul, Nancy, and other staff members who may take part in different sections. That family-business feel is important here. You are not being moved through a large commercial attraction with a guide reading the same lines at every stop. You are meeting people who are directly involved in the farm and its products.

Greg’s humor will not suit every style of tour. If you prefer a quiet, highly technical coffee lesson, his storytelling may feel less focused than you want. If you like personality and conversation, it adds a lot.

The best way to approach the visit is to treat it as a working farm conversation with tastings, not as a formal coffee certification course. You will learn about coffee, but the wider story includes cacao, soap, land care, and life on the island.

Group size, pace, and who will enjoy it

The stated maximum is 30 people. That is a moderate group rather than a private or especially small outing. A group of that size can make questions and movement a little less intimate, though the experience is designed to include discussion.

The walk is not described as strenuous, and there are places to sit during stops. Most people can take part, and the property is described as accessible. Service animals are allowed. Children should remain supervised and guided throughout the visit.

The tour is not recommended for children under 12. That rule is worth taking seriously because the visit involves walking, demonstrations, and a working property. Families with older children who can listen and stay with the group should find it easier than families with toddlers.

I would recommend this experience to:

• Adults who enjoy food, farming, and small businesses
• Couples looking for a relaxed Kona morning
• People who like natural soaps and handmade goods
• Coffee drinkers who also want to learn about cacao
• Visitors who prefer a personal host over a polished attraction

I would think twice if your only goal is an in-depth coffee farm lesson. The coffee section is only one part of the morning, and cacao and soap receive substantial attention.

Is $50 a fair price?

At $50 per person, the value depends on how many parts of the experience you will use. You receive about three hours of guided activity, a farm walk, tastings, a soap-making demonstration, scenic views, and access to a shop filled with products made by the business.

That is a fair package if you enjoy food samples and want a broader look at island agriculture. The price is less compelling if you plan to skip the tastings, have little interest in handmade soap, or want only technical coffee information.

The shop can make the morning more valuable for gift shoppers. Products include soaps, coffee, chocolate, ceramics, essential sprays, and other farm or island souvenirs. Shipping to a U.S. address has been offered at a flat $15 rate regardless of order size, though you should confirm that policy when you visit.

You may also find that the tasting helps you avoid buying products you do not really want. Try the coffee and chocolate, ask about the soaps, and choose only what suits you. The visit works best when shopping is an option rather than the purpose of the tour.

Practical details that affect your morning

Book ahead if you have a fixed Kona itinerary. This experience is commonly reserved well in advance, with an average booking time of about 53 days. The official information lists only Tuesday morning availability for the stated operating period, so check the current calendar carefully.

Your confirmation arrives at booking, and the ticket is mobile. The tour is offered in English. Free parking is available at the meeting point, but the rocky entrance calls for cautious driving.

The cancellation policy is generous if your plans change early. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes inside that 24-hour window are not refunded or accepted. The farm also requires suitable weather and a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels for either reason, you can choose a different date or experience, or receive a full refund.

If you need more than six places, contact the operator directly. The stated group limit is 30 people.

My take: book it for the full farm story

I would book this tour if you want more than a standard coffee tasting. The strongest parts are Greg’s lively presentation, the farm’s focus on biodiversity, the chocolate and coffee samples, and the unusual soap-making section.

I would not book it solely for a detailed coffee lesson. The experience spreads its attention across cacao, soap, farming, island geography, and handmade products. That wider mix is its strength, but it is also the main limitation.

For adults who enjoy useful stories, local products, and a relaxed morning above Kona, $50 is a reasonable price. You get a genuine look at a small farm business, a scenic setting, and several chances to taste or buy the work produced there. Just confirm the operating day, allow for a group of up to 30, and arrive ready for a three-hour visit that is as much about people and land as it is about coffee.

FAQ

Where does the farm tour begin?

It begins at 78-6749 Mamalahoa Highway in Holualoa, Hawaii. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

What day and time is the tour offered?

The supplied schedule lists Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to noon for the operating period shown. Confirm the current date and time before booking.

What will I taste?

You will have the chance to taste coffee and chocolate made on site. The experience also includes chocolate nibs according to the tour details.

Is soap making part of the tour?

Yes. The visit includes information about the farm’s natural soap production and a soap-making demonstration.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour is not recommended for children under 12. All children must remain supervised and guided while on the property.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted or refunded.