Hawaii Chocolate & Cacao Association

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Hawaii Chocolate & Cacao Association

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Founded in 2012, Hawaii Chocolate and Cacao Association's mission is to promote the emerging chocola

10/04/2026

During the renowned 3-hour Lydgate Farms cacao tour, the knowledgeable guides never fail to mention the health benefits of eating dark chocolate 🍫

Cacao happens to be one of the best sources of magnesium (6x more magnesium per serving than bananas for example 🍌), which is a key mineral your brain relies on to keep stress hormones like cortisol in check and calm your nervous system.

When your magnesium levels run low, your body can end up in a hyper-aware state, causing muscle tension, restlessness, and that all-too-familiar feeling of daily anxiety.

Sticking to 70% dark chocolate or higher gives you a concentrated dose of magnesium, along with powerful antioxidants that boost serotonin and help quiet the noise 🧘🏻‍♀️😌

So next time you reach for a piece, remember you’re literally giving your nervous system the exact mineral it needs to relax!

09/28/2026

Judah from Kahuku Farms shows us how small-batch fermentation is done right 🫘👌🏼

He built this fermentation box himself to ferment the cacao grown on their farm on the North Shore of Oahu.

Even with just a few acres of cacao trees, Kahuku Farms manages to do a great job with fermentation, producing chocolate that tastes like brownie, banana, and nuts, while easily collecting some delicious cacao juice in the meantime 🍫

Bravo, Judah!

09/18/2026

Want to travel around the islands of Hawaii through chocolate? ✈️🌴

Here are some exceptional creations we highly recommend crafted by members of our HCCA community:

Lavaloha 70% Sea Salt
Lydgate Farms 75% with Koloa Rum
Lonohana Estate Chocolate Hawaiian Dark with Sea Salt & Nibs
Puna Chocolate Company - Pahoa Cocoa 70% Macadamia Nuts Toasted Coconut
Kahuku Farms 70% Dark Chocolate
Maui Chocolate 2020 Harvest
21 Degrees Estate Cacao Farm 75% Winter Harvest
Honoka'a Chocolate Co. Barrel Aged Bourbon Bar
Valley Isle Chocolate 70% Mililani Estate
Manoa Chocolate Hawaii 70% Honoli'i

Which ones are on your bucket list? 🍫

09/08/2026

Trust us: we get seriously nerdy at our annual cacao & chocolate conference 🤓

During a deep-dive session on fermentation, Kailey Carlson from Lydgate Farms didn't just give us theory, but went straight to the practical details!

She equipped all attendees with specific instructions for building optimal cacao fermentation boxes: exact measurements, ideal materials, and hard-earned lessons from her experience 💪🏼

Developing specialty cacao flavors starts long before you set a fermentation protocol.

It begins with properly building the boxes where the magic happens at every harvest 🍫✨

09/03/2026

Fermentation gets all the attention, but drying is the magic that ties it all together ✨

At our annual conference’s Cacao Agronomy Day, instructor Colin Hart from .orchards broke down why drying isn't just about waiting, but a proactive balancing act.

⚡️Too fast? Moisture drops before volatile acids can escape, locking harsh and bitter flavors inside the bean.

🦥 Too slow? High humidity lingers, opening the door for mold and off-flavors to take over.

To lock in those incredible aromatic profiles, cacao beans need to be frequently monitored and tossed to catch that absolute sweet spot.

Great chocolate starts in the field, but it’s perfected on the drying beds 🍫👌🏼

08/31/2026

Always improving, optimizing, and innovating 🍫

Each year, our conference attendees look forward to touring the Manoa Chocolate Hawaii facility in Kapa'a to see how one of the world's most renowned craft chocolate brands continues to push the boundaries of production and machinery innovation.

And founder Dylan Butterbaugh never holds back!

He keeps it completely real about what it actually takes to run a successful brand, showing that making exceptional chocolate is only half the battle. Efficient warehouse management, spatial optimization, and smart operations are just as crucial to the craft 📐📦

That’s why a tour of Manoa Chocolate remains an absolute must in our conference program every year 🌺✨

08/26/2026

Conference attendees were the very first to get their hands on our two brand-new HCCA booklets:

📖 Cacao Fermentation Manual by Kailey Carlson, VP of Agriculture and Research at Lydgate Farms

A step-by-step post-harvest guide packed with recommended best practices specifically tailored for Hawaiʻi growers.

📖 The Potential for Unfermented Cacao in Hawaiʻi by Raven Hanna, author of the "One Cacao Tree" book

An insightful resource detailing how to process unfermented cacao into delicious beverages perfect for enjoying at home or developing into marketable products.

Due to popular demand, we are working hard to make these available for purchase on our website very soon!

Stay tuned ⏰

08/24/2026

"We’re price makers, not price takers."

🎤 Opening our Annual Conference, HCCA President Will Lydgate (Lydgate Farms) set the tone: Hawaii cacao growers hold a powerful position in the global market.

Despite the daily grind and operational hurdles, those committed to growing award-winning quality have the power to set their own worth and command the prices they actually deserve, building sustainable income for their families and lasting strength for our community.

We’re not taking whatever price the market hands us.
We set the bar 🍫

08/22/2026

Did you know some folks attend our Cacao Agronomy Day every single year? 🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏻

Held the Friday before our annual conference weekend, this immersive day takes us out to a working Hawaii farm to spend the day learning about growing, harvesting, and post-processing specialty cacao.

Here’s why our attendees keep coming back:

🌴 Field-level Networking

Reconnecting with old colleagues and meeting new friends in the open air hits different than sitting in a conference room.

📖 Cutting-edge research & tech

It’s never the same course twice. Every year, we feature updated research, new tools, and improved farming techniques.

🫱🏼‍🫲🏻 Collaborative community

Less rigid lectures, more group brainstorming. While our expert instructors lead the way, everyone is encouraged to chime in. Uncovering insights across different islands, terroirs, and farming approaches is always the highlight of the day!

We’re considering bringing our Cacao Agronomy Workshop to other islands throughout the year.

Which island should we visit next?

Let us know in the comments 👇🏼

Address

Kaneohe, HI
96744

Telephone

+1 808-234-0404

Website

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/hawaiichocolateandcacaoassociation/2172522

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