• 2023 Big Island Chocolate Festival - April 28-29, 2023

    March 20, 2023
    Date and time
    Saturday, April 29 · 6 - 10pm HST
     
    Location
    Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa 69-275 WAIKOLOA BEACH DRIVE Waikoloa Beach, HI 96738
     
    Make your life even sweeter by attending the 10th Annual Big Island Chocolate Festival - April 28-29, 2023 at Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. From chocolate cooking demonstrations and cacao growing presentations to the fun and festive gala of all galas, our annual event is the sweetest (and savoriest) event of the year! We are happy to bring our gala setup back with a twist. We will be offering a Pre-Gala pupu & sunset addition for Saturday night. We are also offering our VIP seating area in the ballroom for all VIP+ ticket holders. Reserve Your VIP+ Tickets - for this special experience & Gala Table Seating with Private Bar.
     
     
    The 2023 Gala event will be held on April 29, 2023 and the ticket price includes unlimited tastings at numerous (12-14) food stations serving sweet & savory offerings, unlimited beer, and wine pours from our various sponsors, DJ or live music, a fabulous silent auction and all around chocolate-themed fun.
     
    With VIP+ tickets you'll enjoy early access, reserved seating in the VIP area and the Pre-Gala pupu pairing starting at 4:30 pm. The VIP section is the only seating available at the event and includes access to your own private bar serving wine, Ola Brew Spritizer & beer.

    Join us for dancing, fun and supporting local cacao growth.
     
    Tentative Schedule for 2023 (Speakers may change)
     

    4/27/23 - Thursday
     
    10- 11 am - Farm Cacao Tour - On location and not at hotel. Will be hosted by Honokaa Chocolate Co . - who has been growing cacao and making award winning chocolate since 2013. They've received 29 awards for our chocolate since 2020, competing in prestigious competitions including the Academy of Chocolate Awards in London, England, the International Chocolate Awards in the US and in Hanover, Germany, the Chocolate Alliance Awards, and the Good Food Awards. It is hosted on 2.5 acres of estate cacao and just recently opened a state of the art factory store in downtown Honokaa in the historic S. Hasegawa building.
     
    4/28/23 - Friday
     
    9 to 6 pm: Culinary Competition for our College Students - Think Masterchef - and it is FREE to attend and support; Location: Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Ballroom
     
    1-5 pm: Farm Education Seminars - This is for our local farmers and budding farmers who want to know how to grow, sell, harvest cacao on their farms here on the Big Island; Tickets to open in Feb/March 2023 once educators are confirmed. Location: Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Conference Rooms
     
    4/29/23 - Saturday
     
    10 am to 1 pm: In Person - Chef Demonstrations - these are tasting demonstrations and are aimed at the budding chef, or chef or visitor who wants to learn new techniques with chocolate and taste chocolate in the process. Tickets can range from $35 to $85 depending on how many demonstrations we offer and speakers we fly in - will be announced in End of March 2023. Hosted in the Conference Rooms located at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
     
    4:30 pm to 6 pm: VIP+ Tickets ONLY - Sunset & Pupu Pairing BEFORE Gala (menu to be finalized by end of March 2023); Located at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Front Lanai
     
    6 pm to 10 pm: Festival Fundraising Gala: 12-14 Chef Booths - serving sweet, savory or both tastings; Unlimited wine, beer and Ola spritzer; Dancing; Seated tables inside with AC - ONLY for VIP or VIP+ tickets ONLY - which include their own bar area; We will have Tall tables with no seats throughout the event; Indoor and Outdoor venue - some booths indoors and some out; Silent Auction and Located at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/koamc-waikoloa-beach-marriott-resort-and-spa/overview/