Learn the inside story of how chocolate is made at Maui Ku‘ia Estate Chocolate from Founder and CEO, Dr. Gunars Valkirs. Gunars has been involved in every aspect of the company from planting the first trees in 2013 to designing and building the factory to making our chocolate up to the present day. The Chocolate Factory Experience is your opportunity to learn how cocoa beans are turned into our award-winning chocolate!
Gunars will guide each VIP group of chocolate lovers in an hour-long deep dive into chocolate making in our factory. During your experience, you will learn about every step of the process, and you will taste samples from intermediate steps that are not available for sale. After the factory walkthrough, you will be given chocolate samples for a self-guided tasting in our upstairs, open-air pavilion. Three of the chocolates will be from our Maui grown beans and four others will be yours to select! For an additional charge, you can enjoy alcoholic beverages to pair with your chocolate (or anything else from our café menu). You will be given a $25 gift card for use for beverages or in the store/online.
The complete experience including chocolate tasting takes about 90 minutes. Guests must be at least 8 years old, and guests must wear a hair net (supplied) and closed toe shoes when in the chocolate factory. Food safety regulations do not allow any exceptions.
"This tour gave me a greater appreciation for the chocolate making process. Gunars, the CEO, gives the personal tour and you can really see how passionate he is about the entire process. The tasting part was fantastic and the staff was very knowledgeable as well. This made me a lifelong customer!"
Katie D.
Yelp
"The owner and CEO, Gunar Valkirs, gave us the tour. Learning all about how to make chocolate was extremely interesting and informative. I usually reserve my highest recommendations in Maui to its wonderful outdoor activities. This tour deserves the same compliments. After the tour we sampled delicious chocolates made with their internationally award winning chocolate beans (2021 and 2023) in their rooftop cafe. Whatever part of Maui you visit, I suggest you make the trip and take this tour."
Michael L
TripAdvisor
"I cannot say enough great things about the tour, chocolate and staff! We were lucky enough to get Gunner, the owner, as our tour guide. His knowledge and ability to explain about the chocolate making process, from pod to the finished product is impeccable. I have a new appreciation for chocolate and chocolate making! After the tour we went up to the covered deck and paired wine with the different chocolates. It was incredible how the flavor of the chocolate intensified with the accompaniment of the different wines. We ordered our chocolates online to avoid compromising them , as they have free 2-day shipping with ice packs when you order over $100. Pretty amazing! We plan on giving as Christmas gifts for friends. Lucky them!"
Carmina B.
TripAdvisor
