Sure Hawaii is known for their traditional luau food, pineapples, and lava flows (strawberry pina colada). However, one place I was greatly looking forward to getting to see was the Muana Loa macadamia nut factory located in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. Those little chocolate pieces of sweet perfection are a preferred Hawaiian favorite of mine, except when we are being investigated for a crime scene.
After driving through beautiful pastures of macadamia nut trees, we arrived at the Muana Loa Macadamia Nut Visitors Center with our eyes on the prize. Located across the driveway from the gift shop and visitor center is a viewing of the macadamia nut processing plant.
After viewing through some windows, the spectacle was over.
Located across from the factory is the gift shop, store, and sampling area. Besides getting to sample only a select few of the many flavors Muana Loa makes of macadamia nuts, there really was nothing really worth seeing. The Muana Loa plant was rather disappointing and nothing as touristy as the Dole Pineapple Plantation over on Oahu.
Big Island Chocolate
Where Muana Loa falls short, the Big Island Candies company makes up in presentation. Also located in Hilo, the Big Island Candy company also makes all of their fine products onsite, which you can view through the windows. During our visit, there were many workers hand dipping dried squid in various chocolate flavors.
Besides your typical chocolates, the Big Island Candies company also catered to a variety of exotic tastes with all kinds of chocolate bugs and various other items.
The great thing about the Big Island Candies store was there were also a ton of samples to try, which can be a great way to persuade my wallet to make a trip to the cashier. That also might be why I did not enjoy Mauna Loa. Samples during our visit were doled out by a woman, who frankly was not that inviting nor as graciously handing out the samples. I think I was able to try one of their chocolate macadamia nut flavors, which was not enough to persuade me that I needed to make a purchase there.
The quality of the chocolate and all of the ingredients that went into the Big Island Candy company products was superb! We were so impressed that we purchased assorted Chocolate Dipped Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies, as well as invested $12 in some Milk Chocolate Dipped Red Velvet Brownies!
When visiting the Big Island of Hawaii, make sure to stop and see the Big Island Candies company, and make a donation to make your taste buds swell with Aloha.
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Source: InACents
