2025 Hilo Cacao & Chocolate Workshop
Saturday September 13, 2025
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Expand your cacao and chocolate horizons during a day of workshops regarding agritourism, starting a cacao farm and an introduction to tasting chocolate. Local cacao farmers and chocolate makers will share their knowledge gained from years of experience. Network with other farmers, makers and enthusiasts and help us grow our cacao community in East Hawaii.
2025 Hilo Cacao & Chocolate Workshop
- Cacao 101: From Pod to Profit
- Agritourism: Operating Successful Cacao Farm Tours
- Chocolate Tasting: From Tree to Tastebud
Ticket sales are closed.
Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Lunch included with your ticket. Limited options. Reserve your lunch option upon check-in at the Workshop.
2025 Workshop Schedule
Time
Topic
Presenter
8:30 AM
Check in
Enjoy complimentary coffee. Water is also available.9:00 AM
Welcome and EHCA Updates
Start your day with a taste of Hawaii's cacao community. EHCA President Alex Wessinger shares updates, stories, and ways to connect with fellow farmers, makers, and chocolate lovers.Alex Wessinger is a cacao farmer and tree-to-bar chocolate maker based on the Big Island of Hawaii. Alex manages both farm operations and chocolate production under his company Kokoleka Puna LLC, specializing in chocolate made exclusively from Big Island cacao. As President of the East Hawaii Cacao Association, he is actively involved in promoting Hawaiian cacao, building connections between farmers and makers, and supporting a thriving local chocolate industry.
Kokoleka Puna LLC
Alex Wessinger
EHCA President
Kokoleka Puna LLC
9:15 AM
Cacao 101
From Pod to Profit
A comprehensive workshop designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and farmers interested in the Hawaiian cacao industry. This intensive session will guide you through the process from cultivating the cacao tree to building a profitable, value-added business.Daeus Bencomo is a cacao industry professional with a strong entrepreneurial background. He began his career in the Hawaiian cacao industry in 2019 at Lavaloha Chocolate in Hilo, where he was instrumental in developing a successful agritourism and cacao-based business. His work focused on connecting the public to the journey of cacao, from cultivation to the final product, establishing a thriving enterprise that highlights the value of locally produced chocolate.
Lavaloha Chocolate
Daeus Bencomo
Lavaloha Chocolate
10:45 AM
Agritourism
The Nuts and Bolts of Operating Successful Cacao Farm Tours
What does it take to add farm tours to farm operations? Susan Bassett will describe Mauna Kea Cacao's experiences over the last six years, including planning, permitting, marketing, profitability, and operations. Running tours is fun and financially rewarding, but the farm work still needs to be done.Susan Bassett owns Mauna Kea Cacao with her husband John. They grow and process award-winning cacao on their Pepeekeo farm. After adding cacao farm tours in 2019, Susan has introduced thousands of visitors to Hawaii cacao and chocolate and asks them to spread the word about Hawaii's fabulous flavor profiles. As a former environmental engineer, she highlights their farm's innovations as visitors pick pods, crack them open and learn about DIY chocolate making.
Mauna Kea Cacao
Susan Bassett
Mauna Kea Cacao
12:00 PM
Lunch
Lunch is included. There are two options: Grand Naniloa Hotel Regular Bento and Grand Naniloa Hotel Vegetarian Bento. Reserve your choice when you check in. Choice is not guaranteed. Come early for best selection.1:00 PM
Chocolate Tasting
From Tree to Tastebud
Discover how to taste chocolate like a pro, even if you are just starting out. In this guided experience, you will learn the basics of chocolate tasting while sampling a curated selection made from cacao grown in Hawaii.Maddy Smith is the founder of Barefoot Chocolatini, a boutique chocolate company rooted in Hawaii and guided by values of sustainability, community, and taste. She specializes in handcrafted chocolates and drinking chocolates, immersive tastings, and cacao farm tours and consulting, offering luxurious, educational experiences from tree to tastebud. With over a decade in the field, Maddy brings warmth, expertise, and deep respect for the land to everything she creates.
Barefoot Chocolatini
Maddy Smith
Barefoot Chocolatini
2:15 PM
Networking
Talk with fellow cacao growers and chocolate makers.3:30 PM
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