Award Winning Farm Tour: Coffee, Chocolate and Unique Gifts

The most interesting part of this Kona farm tour is that it covers more than coffee. You’ll walk through a working coffee and cacao plantation, learn how biodiversity helps the farm, see natural soap made on site, and sample the finished products. Greg Colden leads with humor and plenty of personal stories, while Marty, Paul, Christina, and Nancy help bring the operation to life.

I like the ocean views from 1,200 feet above Kona and the way the tour connects farming with the Big Island’s volcanic soil, rainforests, and local economy. I also like the tastings: the coffee and chocolate give you something delicious to enjoy while the soap demonstration adds an unexpected third subject.

The main thing to consider is the balance of the tour. If you want a detailed coffee-only lesson, this may feel too focused on cacao and soap. Groups can reach 30 people, and children under 12 are not recommended.

Key points to know before booking

• Three subjects in one tour: Coffee, cacao, and natural soap are all part of the experience.
• A scenic starting point: The farm sits about 1,200 feet above Kona, with wide Pacific Ocean views and sights of Hualālai.
• Greg is a lively guide: Expect humor, stories, questions, and a strong focus on farming and the land.
• Tastings are included: You’ll sample coffee and chocolate made by the farm.
• The gift shop matters: Handmade soap, essential sprays, coffee, chocolate, pottery, and island-themed gifts are available.
• Plan for a small-business setting: Parking is free, but the entry area is rocky, and the group may include up to 30 people.

A farm tour with coffee, cacao, and soap

At $50 per person, this is not simply a quick walk among coffee trees. The roughly three-hour visit works as a small production tour, a farm lesson, a tasting, and a shopping stop.

That mix is the reason I see good value here. You are paying for time with the people who grow and make the products, not just for a sample cup of coffee. The tour also helps you understand how a small Hawaiian farm turns crops and plant-based ingredients into items you can take home.

The experience is led by Greg Colden, whose style is warm, funny, and direct. He has a way of explaining farming without making the subject feel like a classroom lecture. Christina and the rest of the team also take part, so the visit feels tied to the people who run the place rather than built around a polished script.

The tone is personal. You’ll hear about the farm’s development, the challenges of working the land in Hawaii, and the choices behind its products. If you enjoy meeting small producers and learning why a product is made a certain way, the price is easier to justify.

The drive to 1,200 feet above Kona

The setting begins before the walking portion. As you make your way to the farm, you climb above Kona to about 1,200 feet, where the Pacific Ocean opens out below you. The view gives you a useful sense of the steep rise from the coast into the uplands.

You may also see Hualālai, the dormant volcano that rises above the Kona area. Its volcanic soil plays a direct role in the crops grown here, and the tour uses that setting to explain why farming on the island can be both productive and demanding.

The route also passes through rainforest and tropical plant growth. This is not a bus sightseeing tour with planned photo stops, but the approach adds a scenic layer to the visit. Give yourself enough time to arrive without rushing, especially since the entrance includes a rocky area where you should drive carefully.

There is lots of free parking. The property is listed as easily accessible, and service animals are allowed, but the walk still takes place on a farm. Wear practical shoes and expect a mix of outdoor and workshop areas.

Walking among coffee and cacao plants

The walking portion introduces you to the farm and its growing methods. You’ll learn about coffee and cacao, along with the history of how the owners developed the property.

One of the strongest themes is biodiversity. Rather than treating the farm as a single-crop field, Greg and his team explain how a mix of plants supports their approach to farming. That matters because it gives you more than a picture of coffee production. You begin to see the farm as a living system, shaped by elevation, rainfall, volcanic soil, and the plants growing around the main crops.

The walking distances are not described as long, and seating is available at each stopping point according to the tour information. That makes the experience manageable for most people. You should still expect to spend real time on your feet, and weather can affect the outing.

The coffee portion is informative but not the sole focus. One visitor specifically found the cacao and soap sections stronger than the coffee farming material. If your main goal is to study coffee cultivation in great detail, compare this tour with a coffee-focused farm visit before booking. If you want coffee as part of a wider farm and food experience, the balance works better.

Coffee and chocolate made on the farm

The tastings are a major part of the visit. You’ll try coffee and chocolate produced on site, including chocolate and cacao nibs in the tasting portion described by the operator and past visitors.

This is where the farming lesson becomes practical. You can connect what you have just seen in the field with the finished food in front of you. The coffee tasting may also appeal to people who do not normally drink coffee. One couple reported that a non-coffee drinker became interested after trying the Kona coffee here.

The chocolate tasting is often a highlight, especially if you enjoy comparing textures and flavors rather than simply buying a candy bar. The experience focuses on the work behind the product, so you’ll have a better idea of what makes small-batch farm production different from a mass-market item.

Keep your expectations in the right place. This is not presented as a formal professional tasting with a long flight of coffees or chocolates. It is a generous educational tasting built into a working farm tour. The value comes from the explanation, the setting, and the chance to meet the people making the products.

The surprise third tour: natural soap

The soap-making segment is the part that sets this experience apart from many Kona coffee tours. You’ll visit the soap-making operation and see how the farm’s plant-based products are made.

The exact production steps may vary by day, but the tour includes a demonstration and an explanation of the process. Scents in the factory are plant based unless you have an allergy to a particular plant, such as lavender. If you are scent-sensitive, ask the team about the products before entering the factory area.

Kona Natural Soap’s products include handmade soaps and essential sprays. The tour explains the company’s focus on gentle, natural goods, and several people have returned to the soap after using it at home. You can also order some products online, which is useful if you do not want to pack them in your luggage.

This section makes the $50 price easier to understand. You are not just walking past crops. You are seeing how a small operation uses local materials, labor, and skill to create goods in several different forms.

Handmade gifts worth making room for

The shop is part of the experience, not an afterthought. You’ll find soaps, chocolate, coffee, essential sprays, pottery, and other farm or island souvenirs.

I like this kind of shopping because the products have a clear connection to the place you visited. A bar of soap or bag of coffee is more useful than another generic souvenir, and the farm-made goods give you a way to continue the experience after returning home.

The shop also works well if you need gifts for people who prefer natural products. The selection includes homemade items rather than only standard tourist merchandise. One practical detail is that the business has offered a flat $15 shipping charge for orders sent to a United States address, regardless of order size. Confirm the current shipping terms before relying on that arrangement.

Set a spending limit before you arrive. The tasting and personal stories can make the shop feel like a natural final step, and the quality of the products may tempt you to buy more than planned.

Greg’s style and the feel of the group

Greg is the central personality here. Expect jokes, personal stories, and a steady stream of information about the farm, the island, and sustainable growing practices.

His humor is a real strength if you like relaxed tours. He encourages questions and takes time to address individual interests, even when the group is sizable. His passion for the land comes through, but the delivery is not stiff or overly formal.

The team also matters. Marty, Paul, Christina, and Nancy are involved in different parts of the operation, which gives you several voices and a closer look at how the business functions. The result feels like a family-run farm where the people care about both the products and one another.

The group limit is currently 30 people. That is larger than a private or very small group outing, and one past booking involved the full group size. A group of 30 can make questions and demonstrations less intimate, though the tour still allows discussion. If a small group is essential to you, contact the provider before booking and ask about the expected size for your date.

Who should book this Big Island experience?

I would recommend this tour to adults who want more than a standard coffee plantation stop. It is a good match if you enjoy food tastings, handmade goods, small farms, and conversations about sustainable agriculture.

It suits couples, solo visitors, and families with older children. The operator does not recommend it for children under 12, and all children must remain supervised. If disruptions become frequent, a family may be asked to step aside or leave the property, so this is not the right pick for a family seeking a loose, child-centered activity.

You’ll get the most from it if you are curious about the full chain of production. You can see crops, hear about farming choices, taste coffee and chocolate, watch soap making, and shop for finished goods in one visit.

I would choose another tour if your only interest is coffee cultivation. The coffee content is present, but cacao and soap receive substantial attention. This broader focus is a feature for some people and a drawback for others.

Timing, access, and booking details

The listed schedule is Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon, with the visit lasting about three hours. Some past tour information refers to longer Thursday visits, so check the schedule for your chosen date rather than assuming every day follows the same format.

The meeting point is 78-6749 Mamalahoa Highway in Holualoa. The tour ends back at the same location, which makes it easy to plan with your own rental car. Mobile tickets are accepted, and the experience is offered in English.

Most people can participate, and the activity is described as easily accessible. Free parking is available, but use care on the rocky entrance area. The tour requires good weather, and the operator may cancel if conditions are poor or if the minimum number of bookings is not reached. In either case, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund.

Bookings for more than six people require direct contact with the provider. Since the activity can be reserved well ahead of time, with an average booking lead time of about 53 days, it is sensible to reserve early if your Kona schedule is fixed.

Is the $50 price worth it?

For three hours, $50 is a fair price if you plan to take part in the full experience. The value comes from the combination of a guided farm walk, two tastings, a soap-making demonstration, views above Kona, and access to a working small business.

The price is less attractive if you want only a short coffee sample or a highly technical coffee lesson. You may find a different farm better suited to that purpose. Here, the product range and personal instruction are central to the visit.

I also like that the money supports a small producer whose work extends beyond a single crop. You are learning about farming, but you are also seeing how the owners build a business around coffee, cacao, soap, and handmade goods.

Should you book Kona Natural Soap’s farm tour?

Book it if you want a friendly, funny, three-hour look at coffee, cacao, biodiversity, and natural soap. Greg’s personality, the ocean views, the tastings, and the distinctive shop make this a memorable choice for adults who enjoy meeting local producers.

Skip it if you need a coffee-only tour, dislike group activities, or are traveling with young children. Also check the current day and group size before paying, since the listed schedule and maximum group size matter.

For the right visitor, this is one of the more varied farm experiences around Kona. You leave with a better understanding of island agriculture, something good to taste, and the option to bring home useful gifts rather than ordinary souvenirs.

FAQ

How long does the farm tour last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is 78-6749 Mamalahoa Highway, Holualoa, Hawaii 96725. The activity ends back at the same location.

What will I taste during the tour?

You’ll have the chance to taste coffee and chocolate made on the farm. The tasting may include chocolate or cacao nibs.

Does the tour include soap making?

Yes. The experience includes a visit to the soap-making operation and a demonstration of the process.

What else can I buy at the farm?

The shop offers handmade soap, coffee, chocolate, essential sprays, pottery, and other farm or island souvenirs.

Is the tour suitable for young children?

The operator does not recommend the experience for children under 12. Children who attend must remain supervised and guided throughout the visit.

How many people can join the tour?

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

What happens if the tour is canceled because of weather?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund. The same options apply if the minimum number of bookings is not reached.