Maui Chocolate Tour — Attraction in Maui

Dr. Gunars Valkirs, family and team have built a wonderful Cacao farm and chocolate factory. It's clear that the team at Maui Ku'ia Estate are passionate about growing the most exceptional Cacao beans on the planet and sharing them via their chocolate manufacturing. The tour of the factory was excellent and Dr. Valkirs is clearly an expert in cacao farming, chocolate manufacturing and distribution. The major thing that I believe is lacking from Maui Ku'ia Estate is just plain old marketing. The tasting experience isn't guided by the equivalent of a chocolate sommelier, which is a miss. The external marketing for this excellent product is also in its infancy. I believe the first issue should be addressed ASAP and would lead to a much easier path for the second. Most visitors (myself included) aren't experts in cacao and fine chocolate. We've never tasted anything quite like the product this fine estate puts out...so if we're not educated on how to taste it and compare it to other products, we're not likely to fully appreciate it's depth, complexity and quality. This is an excellent product at a price point that reflects its quality. Helping your customers and potential customers understand it better will lead to word-of-mouth and will give you something that nobody else in the industry seems to have....the mind-share of customers who were educated by you and your team to understand and appreciate your product vs. the rest. Mahalo for the excellent tour and experience. Our family wish you the greatest success in the future. It's obvious that your business is run with precision, excellence, care...

Absolutely phenomenal experience! The Maui Chocolate Tour is an unforgettable blend of education, indulgence, and aloha spirit. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed and treated to free covered parking—such a thoughtful touch that set the tone for the entire visit. The setting itself is stunning: lush greenery, beautiful views, and a charming facility that often features live local music, adding a delightful ambiance to the whole experience.

Our guide, Stephanie, was the true highlight—so kind, passionate, and incredibly knowledgeable. You could feel their love for cacao and the island in every explanation. They made the entire process of chocolate-making come alive, from tree to bar, in a way that was both informative and deeply engaging.

And the tastings? Absolutely divine. There was an abundance of delicious, high-quality chocolate to sample, each with unique flavor notes and textures. It was a true sensory experience, and we left feeling not only full of chocolate but full of appreciation for the craft and culture behind it.

This tour is a must-do for anyone visiting Maui—whether you’re a chocolate lover, a curious traveler, or someone simply looking for a meaningful and memorable activity. Five stars...

I am a LOVER of all things chocolate so you can imagine my excitement for my first chocolate tasting! However, for the price point, the tour was disappointing.

I love the history and values behind the cacao farm, but the tour guide didn’t share the same passion and enthusiasm, as most tour guides do.

At the start of the tour, I thought Mandy was another guest because she was not warm and welcoming. She offered lots and lots of facts and history, which is what we came for! But in her delivery, it was hard to recall the information when she “quizzed” us. She didn’t engage well with her audience.

In asking to repeat or clarify some of those important facts, we were met with an answer, (over the microphone to the entire bus) that she ‘already went over that earlier in the tour’ and chose not to repeat it.

On a positive note, the chocolate samples were good size portions! There were 9 total samples distributed in 3’s, but, by the 3rd flight of 3, she was moving too quickly through the details and sadly, we missed out on what was in them.

All in all, I would recommend visiting the gift shop, choosing a flight of chocolate, and watching the very informative video, if you’d like to dive deeper into the...