Award Winning Farm Tour: Coffee, Chocolate and Unique Gifts

The best part of this Big Island farm tour is that it is not only about coffee. You’ll walk through a working farm, taste Kona coffee and cacao products, and see how natural soap is made on site. Greg Colden leads much of the experience with humor and plainspoken stories, while Marty and the rest of the team help bring the farm’s many products to life.

I like the Pacific views from 1,200 feet above Kona, and I like that the tour connects farming with biodiversity rather than treating coffee as a simple crop. The main thing to consider is focus: if you want three hours devoted mainly to coffee farming, this tour may feel too centered on cacao, soap, and the wider farm.

• Three experiences in one: coffee, chocolate, and soap making.
• Big Kona views: Look across the coast toward the Pacific and up to Hualālai.
• A working farm: Learn how biodiversity shapes the property and its products.
• Generous tastings: Sample coffee and chocolate made by the farm.
• A useful gift shop: Find soaps, essential sprays, ceramics, coffee, chocolate, and island souvenirs.
• A small-business feel: Greg, Marty, Paul, Nancy, and other staff take part in the experience.

A Kona Farm Tour With More Than Coffee

Kona Natural Soap’s farm sits at 78-6749 Mamalahoa Highway in Holualoa, above the Kona coast. The setting does much of the opening work for you. As you approach, the road passes through lush rainforest and tropical plants, then opens to broad views of the Pacific from about 1,200 feet.

You can also see Hualālai, the dormant volcano that helped form the volcanic soil used by farms in this part of the island. That view gives useful context to the tour. You are not simply walking around a gift shop with a few plants nearby. You are visiting a working property shaped by elevation, weather, soil, and the challenges of farming in Hawaii.

The experience lasts about three hours and is offered in English. It is scheduled on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon during the listed operating period, April 28, 2022 through March 4, 2027. Since schedules can change, I would confirm the day and time when booking.

What Greg Colden Brings to the Walk

Greg is the personality at the center of the tour. He explains the farm’s development, the work involved in growing coffee and cacao, and the role of biodiversity in a way that stays lively. His humor is a big part of the experience, but the jokes do not replace substance.

You’ll hear about the land, the crops, and the practical problems of farming on the island. Greg also makes room for questions, which matters on a farm tour. If you want to know why a crop is grown in a particular place or how a product moves from plant to finished item, this is the time to ask.

Marty, Paul, Nancy, Christina, and other members of the team may also take part. The result feels more personal than a standard scripted walk. The staff are involved in the farm and its products, so the explanations connect the plants, workshop, tastings, and shop.

That personal style is a strength, though it can also make the pace less rigid. You may spend more time on a topic if the group has questions. I see that as a benefit for curious adults, but anyone wanting a tightly timed, highly technical coffee lecture may prefer a more specialized plantation tour.

Walking Through Coffee, Cacao, and Biodiversity

The walking portion introduces you to the farm and its approach to growing. You learn about coffee and cacao, along with the importance of keeping different plants and natural systems working together.

This is one of the tour’s most useful ideas. Kona coffee is famous, but a farm is not just a row of coffee trees. Cacao, fruit, flowers, and other plants can all be part of a working agricultural system. The tour explains that broader picture and shows why biodiversity matters to the owners.

The walk is not described as strenuous. There are places to sit at the stopping points, and the route involves no great distances. Still, you are outside on a farm, so wear practical shoes and be ready for uneven ground. Free parking is available, but take care when entering the rocky area by the property.

The scenery adds a quiet reward. You may pause with the Pacific below you, rainforest greenery nearby, and Hualālai rising behind the farm. Those views are a good reason to keep your camera ready, but do not let them distract you from the purpose of the visit. The real value lies in connecting the view with the soil, crops, and work happening under your feet.

Coffee Tasting With a Broader Focus

Coffee is part of the tour, and you will taste coffee made on site. The tasting helps you connect the plant and farming discussion with the finished drink.

The coffee segment, however, is not the sole focus. One visitor found the coffee farming information too limited and suggested a free coffee-specific tour elsewhere in Kona. That is an important distinction. You should book this experience for a mix of coffee, cacao, soap, biodiversity, and farm life, not for an intensive lesson devoted only to coffee cultivation or roasting.

That broader format will suit you if someone in your group loves coffee while another person is more interested in natural products or local crafts. The tasting also gives non-coffee drinkers a chance to try a Kona product in a simple, guided setting. One especially useful detail is that even a person who did not normally drink coffee reportedly found the farm’s coffee appealing after tasting it.

Cacao and Chocolate From Plant to Sample

Chocolate is one of the strongest parts of the experience. You learn about cacao and get to taste products made from the farm’s crop. The sampling may include chocolate and cacao nibs, giving you more than one way to notice the flavor and texture of the finished product.

This is where the tour feels distinct from a standard Kona coffee visit. Cacao farming receives real attention, and the chocolate tasting gives the lesson an immediate payoff. You are not only hearing about a crop. You are seeing how a farm product becomes something you can eat.

The chocolate is also part of the gift-shopping appeal. If you want a small, edible reminder of the Big Island, farm-made chocolate travels better than many fresh products. I would save room in your luggage for a few items, especially if you prefer locally made gifts over mass-produced souvenirs.

The Soap Workshop Is the Surprise

The soap-making portion catches many people off guard because it is not obvious from the tour’s coffee-and-chocolate title. You’ll see how the farm’s natural soaps are produced and learn about the products sold by Kona Natural Soap.

The workshop adds practical value. You can see the connection between plant-based ingredients and a finished household product, rather than simply reading a label in a shop. The property also makes essential sprays and other plant-based goods. If you have a plant allergy, ask about ingredients and scents before sampling or purchasing.

Soap is also the part of the tour that may matter most after your vacation. Coffee and chocolate are enjoyable souvenirs, but soap is something you can use regularly. Some products can also be ordered online later, which is helpful if you find a favorite and do not want to carry a large supply home.

The soap segment does mean less time for coffee farming. That is not a flaw in itself, but it is the clearest reason to match your expectations to the tour. Think of it as a farm, food, and natural-products experience.

Tastings and the Gift Shop

The tasting portion includes coffee and chocolate made on the property. It gives you a chance to decide what you actually like before buying. That matters because handmade products can cost more than ordinary supermarket goods, and sampling helps make the shopping decision more informed.

The shop carries coffee, chocolate, soaps, essential sprays, ceramics, and other farm or island gifts. The selection has a useful range: edible items for easy gifting, personal-care products for everyday use, and handmade objects for something more lasting.

I like the shop because it extends the tour rather than feeling tacked on. You have already seen the farm, heard about the production process, and tasted some of the results. The purchase then has a clear link to the place.

Shipping is available for orders sent to a United States address, with a reported flat shipping charge of $15 regardless of order size. Confirm current shipping terms at the shop, but this can be useful if you want to buy more than you can pack.

Price, Group Size, and Practical Value

The tour costs $50 per person and lasts about three hours. That is a fair price if you take part in all its sections: farm walk, coffee tasting, chocolate tasting, soap-making demonstration, and gift-shop browsing.

You are paying for more than a brief plantation stroll. The tour combines several small experiences that would be difficult to arrange separately. The value is strongest if you enjoy learning how local products are made and expect to buy at least a few handmade goods.

The group can reach 30 people. That is larger than some visitors expect from a farm tour, and it may not feel intimate when everyone gathers around a demonstration. The upside is that the team has experience answering questions and keeping the session moving. If you want a very small group, ask about current capacity before booking.

The activity is not recommended for children under 12. Children who do attend must remain supervised and guided. If repeated disruptions affect the group, families may be asked to step aside or leave the property. I would treat this as an adult-focused outing, especially because the content and pace are aimed at people who want to listen and ask questions.

Most people can participate, and the site is described as easily accessible. Service animals are allowed. Free parking is available, though you should drive carefully over the rocky entrance area.

Who Will Enjoy This Farm Experience

I would recommend this tour to adults who want more than a coffee tasting. It works especially well for:

• People curious about Kona farming and biodiversity.
• Couples looking for an educational morning with food samples.
• Families with older children who can stay engaged and supervised.
• Shoppers who prefer handmade soaps, food, ceramics, and local gifts.
• Visitors who enjoy meeting the people behind a small farm business.
• Anyone who wants a scenic stop above Kona with a useful activity attached.

I would be more cautious if you want a technical coffee course, a short tasting with little walking, or a tour built around a very small group. The coffee content is present but shares time with cacao and soap.

Book ahead if your schedule is fixed. The experience is booked an average of 53 days in advance, which suggests that popular dates can fill early. You receive confirmation at booking, and groups larger than six should contact the operator directly.

Weather, Cancellations, and Timing

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of people is not met.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off uses local Hawaii time, so do not wait until the last minute if your plans are uncertain.

Since the tour runs from 9 a.m. to noon, it fits well at the start of a Kona day. Give yourself enough time to drive to Holualoa, park, and enter carefully. The activity ends back at the meeting point, so you can continue with your own plans afterward.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want a three-part farm experience: coffee, chocolate, and soap. The combination is unusual, and Greg’s humor and stories give the morning a personal feel. The high satisfaction rate, with 99 percent recommending it and a 5.0 rating from 484 reviews, matches the tour’s strongest qualities: friendly staff, good tastings, useful demonstrations, and a shop filled with products you can actually use.

Skip it if your only goal is detailed coffee farming instruction. In that case, choose a coffee-focused plantation visit instead. But if you want scenic views, farm education, chocolate, natural soap, and a chance to support a small local business, the $50 price buys a full and memorable morning.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at 78-6749 Mamalahoa Highway, Holualoa, Hawaii 96725.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

What time is the tour offered?

The listed operating time is Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon.

What will I taste?

You will have the chance to taste coffee and chocolate made on the farm.

Is soap making part of the tour?

Yes. The experience includes a demonstration and information about the farm’s homemade natural soaps.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, the tour is offered in English.

Is parking available?

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

Can children attend?

The tour is not recommended for children under 12. All children who attend must remain supervised and guided.

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 before the start time are not accepted for a refund.