Award Winning Farm Tour: Coffee, Chocolate and Unique Gifts

The best farm tours leave you with more than samples. This three-hour Kona outing combines a guided plantation walk with coffee and chocolate tastings, then adds an unexpected look at natural soap making. I like the spectacular view from 1,200 feet above Kona and the warm, funny hosting from Greg Colden and his team. I also like that your $50 includes several connected subjects instead of one narrow crop tour. The main drawback is that the group can reach 30 people, and the tour gives cacao and soap nearly as much attention as coffee.

This is a Tuesday morning activity at Kona Natural Soap, above Holualoa. You will walk around a working farm, learn about biodiversity and island agriculture, taste products made on site, and browse a small shop filled with soaps, coffee, chocolate, pottery, and other gifts. It is aimed at adults and is not recommended for children under 12, so families should plan accordingly.

Key points to know before you book

• The view comes first: At about 1,200 feet above Kona, you can look across the Pacific coastline toward Hualālai.
• It is three subjects in one: Coffee, cacao, and handmade soap all receive attention.
• Greg Colden sets the tone: His humor, personal stories, and easy manner are a major part of the morning.
• Tastings are included: You sample coffee and chocolate produced at the farm.
• The group may be large: The official maximum is 30 people, not a tiny private walk.
• Book ahead for Tuesday: The listed schedule is Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon, and the tour averages 53 days of advance booking.

Arriving above Kona for the Tuesday morning tour

The meeting point is 78-6749 Mamalahoa Highway in Holualoa, a short drive into the higher country above Kona. You finish at the same place, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup or find your way back from another part of the island.

The approach is part of the pleasure. As you climb, the Pacific opens below you, and the view reaches along the Kona coast. Hualālai, the dormant volcano above the district, helps explain why agriculture works here. Its volcanic ground supports the crops, while the higher elevation brings a cooler setting than the shore.

The drive also passes through rainforest with tropical plants and heavy greenery. I would allow a little extra time for the approach, since the property entrance includes a rocky area. Parking is free, but the directions specifically ask you to drive carefully as you enter.

The morning schedule matters. This is not a flexible all-day stop that you can add whenever you happen to be nearby. It is listed for Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon, and the advance booking average is 53 days. If the farm fits your plans, reserve early rather than treating it as a last-minute filler.

A farm walk shaped by biodiversity and island conditions

The walking portion introduces the farm and the problems of growing crops in Hawaii. You learn about the land, the farm’s development, and the way coffee, cacao, fruit, and other plants fit into a biodiverse system.

That wider view is one reason I find this more useful than a simple tasting stop. You are not only hearing how a finished chocolate bar or cup of coffee is made. You are also getting a sense of the work behind the crop, the limits of island farming, and the choices involved in caring for the soil and surrounding plants.

The walk is not described as strenuous. One family account noted that the route involved no great distances and that there were places to sit at each stop. That makes it workable for most people, though you should still expect an outdoor walking tour rather than a purely indoor presentation.

Greg Colden is often the main speaker, with Marty, Paul, Nancy, Christina, and other staff involved at different points. His style is relaxed and comic. He explains the farm, answers questions, and uses personal stories to keep the subject from feeling like a classroom lecture.

You should come ready to ask questions. The format allows conversation, and the staff spend time responding to individual interests. If you want a quick photo stop and a short sample, this may feel too talkative. If you enjoy learning how a small business works, the time passes easily.

Coffee, cacao, and the limits of the coffee focus

The title puts coffee first, and Kona coffee is an important part of the morning. You learn about coffee growing and later taste coffee made from the farm’s production. Several people have found the tasting persuasive enough to change their view of Kona coffee, including one non-coffee drinker who enjoyed it.

Still, I would set your expectations carefully. This is not solely a coffee-farming tour. Cacao and soap making receive substantial attention, and the coffee section may feel brief if your main goal is a technical study of cultivation, processing, or roasting.

One account specifically found less coffee information than expected and suggested a dedicated coffee farm tour for people who want coffee farming above all else. That is a fair distinction. Choose this outing for the mix of crops, products, people, and ideas. Choose a more specialized coffee visit if you want every minute centered on coffee.

The useful point is that the farm treats coffee as part of a larger system. The talk about biodiversity gives the crop a proper setting instead of presenting it as a stand-alone souvenir. You can taste the result, then connect it to the land and the work involved.

Chocolate tasting and the cacao side of the farm

The chocolate portion is one of the most praised parts of the morning. You learn about cacao and taste chocolate or cacao nibs produced on site. The sample gives the farm’s agricultural talk a direct payoff: you can connect what grows in the field with what reaches your hand.

I like this part because it keeps the tour grounded in real products. You are not only looking at plants and listening to explanations. You get a chance to decide what you enjoy, compare the flavors with familiar chocolate, and choose a few items for the road or for gifts.

The cacao section also helps explain why the tour is broader than its name might suggest. People who arrive expecting only Kona coffee sometimes find the chocolate content just as interesting, or even more so. That is not a flaw unless you specifically want a coffee-only morning.

The tasting is modest rather than a full meal. Plan to have breakfast before arriving. The tour is about learning and sampling, not replacing lunch.

The surprise third tour: soap making

The most distinctive part of the visit may be the soap workshop. Kona Natural Soap is not simply using the farm as a backdrop for coffee and chocolate. The business also makes handmade soap and other plant-based products, and the tour shows how that work fits into the operation.

You get a demonstration of soap making and a look at the workshop. The process adds a practical craft element that most plantation tours do not offer. It also gives you something useful to take home, not just a food item that may disappear quickly.

The scents in the factory are described as entirely plant based unless you have an allergy to a particular plant, such as lavender. That detail matters for anyone sensitive to fragrance. If you have a known allergy, ask before the tour begins.

The products receive strong praise for being gentle and natural. I would treat claims about purity or organic ingredients as the maker’s product positioning rather than a reason to assume every item suits every skin type. Check labels and ask staff if you have a specific sensitivity.

The soap section is also where the tour feels most personal. You see a small business with several people contributing to farming, production, explaining, and selling. That human scale is part of the appeal. It is less polished than a large commercial factory, but more connected to the people doing the work.

Greg Colden and the value of a good host

A farm tour can become a list of facts. Here, the guide’s personality carries much of the morning. Greg Colden is described as funny, personable, entertaining, and passionate about the land. His humor is not just decoration. It helps hold together a tour that covers farming, biodiversity, coffee, cacao, soap, local history, and shopping.

Christina has also been praised as an excellent host, and the wider team contributes to the visit. You may hear from Greg, Marty, Paul, Nancy, or other staff depending on the day. The repeated impression is of people who care about the farm and work closely together.

That said, personality is subjective. Greg’s style is lively, story-driven, and interactive. If you prefer a quiet, tightly scripted tour with only technical information, you may find the jokes and personal stories a little much. I think they suit the setting, especially when the subject turns to the challenges of small-scale farming.

The best approach is to treat the morning as a conversation. Listen, ask questions, and allow the staff to show you how the pieces connect.

Shopping for gifts that feel tied to the place

The shop gives the visit a practical finish. You can buy coffee, chocolate, handmade soap, essential sprays, pottery, and farm or island souvenirs. The products are made or connected to the operation, so the shopping feels less generic than picking up a logo item at an airport.

Soap is an especially sensible purchase. It travels well, does not spoil quickly, and gives you a reminder of the workshop after the coffee and chocolate are gone. Coffee and chocolate make easy gifts, while pottery offers a different kind of keepsake.

One useful detail is the fixed shipping option mentioned for orders sent to a U.S. address: $15 regardless of order size. That can make a larger purchase easier, though you should confirm current shipping terms when you buy.

The shop can also change the value calculation. At $50, the tour is reasonably priced for about three hours of guided time, tastings, a farm walk, and a soap demonstration. If you already know you want coffee, chocolate, or soap, the chance to buy directly from the producer adds value. If you are unlikely to shop or sample much, the price depends more heavily on how much you enjoy the presentation.

Group size, age guidance, and comfort

The maximum group size is 30 people. That is manageable, but it is not an intimate private tour. One past description had suggested a smaller group, and the operator later clarified that the current limit had changed. I would book this expecting a group that could be fairly full.

A larger group has tradeoffs. You get more questions and energy, but it can be harder to hear or stay close during the walk. If you need a highly personal format, contact the provider before booking, especially for a group of more than six. Groups larger than six require direct contact.

The tour is not recommended for children under 12. All children must remain supervised and guided, and families may be asked to step aside or leave if repeated disruptions affect the group. This is a clear signal that the operator wants an adult-focused learning experience.

Most people can participate, the site is described as easily accessible, and service animals are allowed. The walk is not presented as demanding, but you should be comfortable moving around an outdoor farm and a rocky entrance.

What $50 buys you at Kona Natural Soap

At $50 per person, I see this as good value if you use the full three hours. You receive a guided farm walk, views from the high Kona country, explanations of coffee and cacao, tastings, a soap-making demonstration, and access to a shop with products made by the business.

The value is less obvious if you want only a coffee tasting. In that case, a specialized coffee visit may give you more detail for your particular interest. This tour earns its price through variety and the quality of the host rather than through a narrow technical focus.

I also like that the experience supports a small farm and production business instead of stopping at a generic retail counter. The money can lead to a purchase, but you are not pressured to buy anything to make the tour worthwhile.

The high rating, with 99 percent of people recommending it and a five-star score from 484 ratings, matches the strongest features: Greg’s hosting, the tastings, the soap demonstration, and the sense of a real working operation. The one consistent caution is the group size and the balance of subjects.

Booking, cancellation, and weather details

The experience is offered in English and includes a mobile ticket. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund, and cutoff times follow local Hawaii time.

The tour depends on good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The operator also requires a minimum number of people, so a cancellation for low enrollment comes with the choice of another date or experience, or a full refund.

Because the listed schedule is limited to Tuesday mornings, check the date carefully before paying. I would also confirm the current timing and group size if your plans are tight or if you are traveling with more than six people.

Should you book this Big Island farm tour?

Book it if you want a friendly, informative morning that connects coffee, chocolate, biodiversity, and handmade soap. It suits adults, couples, solo visitors, and families with older children who enjoy tasting, asking questions, and shopping for useful local products.

I would especially recommend it to anyone who likes meeting the people behind a small business. Greg Colden and his team are the heart of the visit, and the humor keeps the farming lessons moving.

Skip it if your only goal is an intensive coffee education, or if you strongly dislike group tours and lively presentations. For everyone else, the mix is the point. You leave with a better sense of Kona agriculture, a few good samples, and the chance to take home something made on the farm rather than something stamped with a mass-market logo.

FAQ

Where does the farm tour meet?

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

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts approximately three hours and finishes back at the meeting point.

When is the tour offered?

The listed hours are Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $50 per person.

What is included in the tour?

You take a guided walking tour of the coffee and chocolate plantation, taste coffee and chocolate made on site, see a soap-making demonstration, and have time to shop for homemade gifts and souvenirs.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English, and a mobile ticket is available.

How large can the group be?

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

Are children allowed?

The tour is not recommended for children under 12. Children who attend must remain supervised and guided throughout the visit.

What happens if the tour is canceled because of weather?

You will be offered another date or a full refund if poor weather cancels the activity. Free cancellation is also available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.