2026 Big Island Chocolate Festival debuts free Chocolate Farmers Market, promises sweet shindig

“Chocolate in Paradise” for the 13th Big Island Chocolate Festival promises “Chocolate in Paradise” from April 23-25 in West Hawai‘i.

New this year is a free Chocolate Farmers Market, showcasing local cacao growers and chocolate makers. The annual free college student chocolate competition is also open to spectators — think “MasterChef” college style!

“These students are the future chefs of Hawai‘i,” said Kona Cacao Association President Farsheed Bonakdar in a release detailing the upcoming festival. “They will show their skills and creativity to produce plated desserts that will be critiqued by a panel of high-octane chefs.”

Bonakdar added that the students will further benefit by attending culinary demonstrations during the festival, which are also open to the public. The fruits of the competition also are beneficial for the food service industry, which caters largely to the state’s tourism industry.

“Itʻs a win-win for these young people to meet and learn from top-caliber chefs,” he said.

Festival activities kick off April 23 with a plantation tour at Konaʻs Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory before continuing April 24 at Waikōloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa for the new Chocolate Farmers Market, college competition and cacao farming and processing seminars.

Culinary tasting demonstrations are April 25, culminating with the fun fundraising gala and silent auction.

The grand gala — from 5:30 to 9 p.m. — offers walkabout booths for savory and sweet chocolate-inspired culinary creations. Enjoy specialty mocktails, unlimited beer and wine — including poured selections by the Big Island’s Volcano Winery — plus a colossal chocolate fountain with fresh fruit and pastries.

It opens with a traditional Hawaiian blessing, and fun includes People’s Choice voting, edible chocolate “portraits,” a zany photo booth, silent auction and DJ with dancing.

Choreography by Kona Dance and Performing Arts Youth Company will wow attendees with “Bonbon” and “Restoration.” An awards presentation will celebrate winners of the student competition, People’s Choice and Best Cacao Bean.

General admission gala tickets are $109. A VIP experience with three special pupu and beverage pairings, private wine bar and reserved table seating is available for $179, with limited tickets available.

Silent auction bidding opens at noon April 21 online. Proceeds benefit the 2026 nonprofit beneficiaries Kona Dance and Performing Arts, American Culinary Federation Kona Kohala Chefs Association and participating culinary students.

All event tickets and packages are sold at the Big Island Chocolate Festival website.

Festival itinerary

April 23

• Guided Farm Tour in Kona; tickets are $30 each or $50 for two.
• Sampling included at Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory.

NOTE: All other activities April 24-25 are at Waikōloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa.

April 24

Student Chocolate Competition

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Watch student teams from three Hawai‘i community colleges compete, creating plated desserts using chocolate and cacao. King’s Hawaiian is sponsoring $5,000 in scholarship awards for the top three winning teams, which will be presented during the gala.

Chocolate Farmers Market

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Local makers sell cacao, chocolate bars and products using their artisan chocolate 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Farm/processing seminars

NOTE: Cost is $45 for all four seminars; $60 for two attendees.

• 11 a.m. to noon: “The Ins & Outs of Small-Scale Cacao Processing for Micro-Farms” by Raven Hanna.
• 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.: “Post-Harvest Cacao Processing” by Nat Bletter, founder and “flavormeister” of Madre Chocolate.
• 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.: “Nematode Biocontrol Against Queensland Longhorned Beetle” by Ema Stierhoff.
• 2:30 to 4:15 p.m.: “The Importance of Properly Tempering Chocolate” presented by world pastry champion Chef Stéphane Tréand.

April 25

NOTE: Culinary demonstrations with tasting cost $89 for all three or $44 each.

Culinary demonstrations

• 10 to 11:30 a.m.: Four Seasons Resort Maui Executive Pastry Chef Ashish Thalakkat.
• 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.: “How to Make THE Best Bonbons” returns by popular demand by award-winning Pastry Chef Helen Hong of the Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection.
• 1:30 to 3 p.m.: “Creating an Artistic Chocolate Showpiece” by world pastry champion and international pastry shop consultant Chef Stéphane Tréand.

Fundraising gala and silent auction

• 5:30 to 9 p.m.: Enjoy walkabout booths for savory and sweet chocolate-inspired culinary creations; specialty mocktails, unlimited beer and wine — including poured selections by the Big Island’s Volcano Winery; plus a colossal chocolate fountain with fresh fruit and pastries, among much more.

Big Island Chocolate Festival is presented by Kona Cacao Association. Support is provided by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority through its Community Enrichment Program.

Visit the Big Island Chocolate Festival website for more details of the 3-day festival, additional information and to purchase tickets.