Award Winning Farm Tour: Coffee, Chocolate and Unique Gifts

The most interesting part of this Big Island outing is its mix of farm work and small-scale making. You walk among coffee, cacao, fruit, and other plants, then see how the farm’s products become chocolate, coffee, and natural soap. Greg Colden leads with humor, while Marty, Paul, Christina, and other staff add their own part of the story.

I like the biodiversity focus and the chance to taste products made on site. I also like the view: the farm sits about 1,200 feet above Kona, with the Pacific below and Hualālai rising behind you. The main consideration is focus. If you want a long, technical coffee-farming lesson, this tour may give more time to cacao and soap than you expect.

Key points

• Three experiences in one: Coffee, cacao, and soap making share the main program.
• Greg Colden leads the visit: Expect humor, personal stories, and plenty of time for questions.
• Tastings are included: You sample farm-made coffee and chocolate, including chocolate nibs.
• The setting is part of the tour: Look for Pacific views, Hualālai, rainforest, and volcanic soil.
• Plan for a Tuesday morning: The listed tour runs from 9 a.m. to noon and returns to the starting point.
• The gift shop matters: Handmade soap, coffee, chocolate, pottery, sprays, and other island gifts are available.

What this Kona farm tour is really about

Kona Natural Soap’s farm tour is not just a walk past coffee trees. It is a look at how a small agricultural business uses its land, plants, workshop, and store together.

The advertised title leads with coffee, chocolate, and unique gifts, but the full experience also includes soap making. That extra subject is one of the tour’s pleasant surprises, especially if you care about natural body products or want useful souvenirs instead of ordinary resort merchandise.

The tour lasts about three hours and costs $50 per person. I see that as a fair price if you value access to the farm, a guided walk, tastings, the soap demonstration, and the chance to ask questions. It is less compelling if you only want to taste Kona coffee and leave. For that purpose, a shorter coffee-centered visit may suit you better.

The current group limit is 30 people. That is not a private farm visit, and the experience may feel fairly social. You should also know that an older description once suggested a smaller group, but the stated limit now allows up to 30. Book with that larger maximum in mind.

The drive to 1,200 feet above Kona

The setting begins before the walking portion. As you approach the farm, you reach a viewpoint roughly 1,200 feet above Kona, where the Pacific spreads below the coast. On a clear morning, this gives you an immediate sense of how sharply the Big Island rises from the sea.

The route also brings views of Hualālai, the dormant volcano above Kona. Its volcanic ground helped form the soil that supports coffee and other crops in this part of the island. The road passes through rainforest, so the trip to the farm has its own payoff rather than feeling like a simple transfer to a meeting point.

You meet at 78-6749 Mamalahoa Highway in Holualoa. Free parking is available, but take care when entering the rocky area. The experience ends back at this same spot, so you do not need to arrange a separate pickup at the end.

The listed operating time is Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon. Check the date carefully when booking, since this is not presented as a daily tour. The activity is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket.

Walking through coffee, cacao, and biodiversity

The walking tour introduces the working farm and the problems that come with growing crops on the island. Farming in Hawaiʻi is shaped by volcanic ground, steep terrain, weather, water, and the need to care for limited land. Greg places the farm within that larger picture, explaining how biodiversity fits into the way the property is run.

That approach gives the tour more substance than a simple plant identification walk. You learn how coffee and cacao fit into a wider farm system, rather than treating each crop as an isolated product. The precise route and plant list are not specified, so expect a guided look at the property rather than a fixed botanical checklist.

The walk is manageable for most people. One useful detail is that the stops have places to sit, and the walking distances are not described as long. Still, this is an outdoor farm visit, so comfortable shoes and attention to the weather make sense.

The experience is accessible, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed. Children must remain supervised and guided, and the operator does not recommend the tour for anyone under 12. Families should take that age guidance seriously because repeated disruptions can lead to a family being asked to step aside or leave the property.

Coffee and chocolate made on the farm

The tasting portion is central to the value of the visit. You try coffee and chocolate produced on site, with chocolate nibs included among the samples described by the operator. This lets you connect the plants and farm methods to the finished food in front of you.

The coffee portion is useful for beginners and serious coffee drinkers alike, but set your expectations correctly. The program covers coffee farming, yet the overall visit also gives substantial attention to cacao and soap. One participant found the coffee information less detailed than expected and preferred a free coffee-farming option elsewhere in Kona.

That is the clearest limitation of the tour. If your main goal is a technical account of coffee cultivation, processing, and roasting, you may want a more specialized coffee visit. If you want coffee as one part of a broader small-farm story, the blend works well.

The chocolate side adds variety. You do not simply drink a cup and browse a shop. You learn about cacao within the farm setting and then taste the result. For many people, the chocolate tasting will be the most memorable part, especially because it follows the walk and gives a direct sense of what the farm produces.

The soap workshop adds an unexpected third act

The soap-making section is what separates this experience from a standard Kona coffee tour. You see the workshop and learn how the farm’s natural soap is made. The demonstration gives you a practical look at a product that you can use at home, not just a snack that disappears on the drive back to your hotel.

The scents in the factory are plant based unless you have an allergy to a particular plant, such as lavender. If you are sensitive to fragrances or certain botanicals, ask the staff before the demonstration. The available information does not identify every ingredient or scent, so an individual question is the sensible approach.

The soap operation also gives the tour a personal, small-business feel. You are not only looking at crops. You are seeing how Greg Colden, Marty Corrigan, and their team turn farm materials and local ideas into goods sold through their own business.

That connection is valuable. It helps you understand the work behind the shop’s products, and it gives context to the prices. You are buying from a small operation with a visible production process, not picking up a generic souvenir with a Kona label.

Greg Colden and the human side of the visit

Greg is the main personality of the tour. He is funny, direct, and willing to answer questions. His style seems to rely on stories, jokes, and a strong personal connection to the property. If you enjoy a guide who talks freely and keeps a group engaged, you will probably appreciate his approach.

The tone is informal rather than polished in a corporate way. That is part of the charm, but it also means the experience may feel less scripted. The length of each topic can depend on questions and group interest.

Marty, Paul, Christina, and Nancy are also involved in the operation and may contribute to the tour. The staff’s role helps the visit feel like a look at a real family-run workplace rather than a performance delivered by one person alone.

I would book this for someone who likes meeting the people behind a product. You get more than facts about coffee and cacao. You get a sense of why the owners care about the land, the staff, and the community around the farm.

Shopping for useful Big Island gifts

The shop is not an afterthought. It carries homemade soap, essential sprays, coffee, chocolate, ceramics, pottery, and other farm or island souvenirs. The range makes it easy to buy for different people, from someone who wants edible treats to someone who prefers a practical bath product.

The soap is especially worth considering if you like mild, plant-based products. The information available describes the scents as plant based, and the product line is a major part of the business. You should still check labels if you have an allergy or a strict ingredient requirement.

The coffee and chocolate make simple gifts, while ceramics and handmade goods offer something less predictable. One useful shopping detail is that a flat $15 shipping fee to a United States address has been offered regardless of order size. Confirm the current arrangement at the shop, but this could help if you do not want to pack breakable or perishable items.

I like this part of the tour because it gives you time to decide after learning how the goods are made. You are not pushed straight from a tasting into a rushed checkout. The shop also gives you a way to support the farm after returning home, since some products can be ordered online.

Price, schedule, and practical planning

At $50 per person, the tour sits in a reasonable range for a three-hour guided experience, provided you use the full program. You are paying for the farm walk, views, stories, tastings, soap demonstration, and access to a shop connected to the operation.

The value drops if you are interested in only one part. A coffee specialist may want more time on coffee than this tour provides. A person who dislikes shopping may also see less benefit in the final portion. For most people, though, the three subjects keep the morning varied.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you can receive a full refund or choose another date. A minimum number of participants is also required, and if that minimum is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off uses local time.

If you need to book more than six people, contact the operator directly. The maximum listed group size is 30, so a larger family reunion or club outing needs to be arranged rather than booked as a standard small reservation.

Who should book this farm experience

I would choose this tour for adults who want a relaxed, educational morning with food samples and a real connection to a local business. It suits couples, solo visitors, and families with older children who can stay engaged for three hours.

It is also a good fit if you enjoy several related subjects in one visit. Coffee, cacao, farming methods, soap, and handmade gifts all appear in the same program. You do not need expert knowledge to follow along, and the guide’s humor helps keep the information from becoming a lecture.

I would hesitate if your schedule is tight, your only interest is coffee, or you want a quiet, private walk. The group may reach 30 people, and Greg’s lively style will not suit everyone. The tour also runs on a specific Tuesday morning schedule, which may not fit a short Kona stay.

Plan to arrive ready for both outdoor and indoor portions. You will move through the farm, then spend time in the factory and shop. Free parking helps, but the rocky entrance calls for care.

FAQ

How much does the coffee, chocolate, and gift tour cost?

The tour costs $50 per person.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours. The listed Tuesday schedule runs from 9 a.m. to noon.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at 78-6749 Mamalahoa Hwy, Holualoa, Hawaiʻi 96725, and ends back at the same meeting point.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The operator does not recommend it for children under 12. All children must remain supervised and guided, and families may be asked to step aside or leave if disruptions continue.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum listed group size is 30 people. If you need to book more than six people, contact the operator.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants may result in another date or a full refund.

Should you book Kona Natural Soap’s farm tour?

Book it if you want a three-part Big Island experience that combines coffee, cacao, and soap making with a scenic farm setting. Greg Colden’s humor, the Pacific view, the tastings, and the handmade shop give the morning a clear sense of place.

Skip it if you want a narrow, highly technical coffee tour or a private group. The strongest reason to book is the mix: you see the land, taste the products, learn about the workshop, and meet the people who make the business work. For a $50 morning in the Kona area, that is a solid package, especially if you plan to take home useful gifts rather than another mass-produced souvenir.