Welcome back to National Parks & other public lands with T! If you are seeing this on Twitter or Facebook, please visit the blog to see all of the photos and read the story by clicking the link. Happy Valentine’s Day!
After our tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, our bus stopped at Big Island Candies. We rolled our eyes as we exited the bus at the prospect of yet another tourist trap foisted upon us by a well-meaning tour guide.
But when we got inside, it was fun! We looked through the windows into the factory as the workers prepared yummy cookies and chocolate. Staff circulated through the crowds with baskets of free samples…some of the best shortbread I’ve ever had.
Big Island Candies began as a three person operation in 1977, founded by Allan Ikawa, who had a talent for making high quality chocolate. Today it is a major employer in Hilo, with 100 full time workers and 300 during the busy season.
Hilo Posts:
- Volcano House
- Steam Vents
- Kīlauea Iki
- Chain of Craters Road
- Big Island Candies
- Rainbow Falls (Coming Soon)
- Richardson’s Black Sand Beach (Coming Soon)
- Mokuola (Coming Soon)
Location: 4428, 585 Hinano St, Hilo, HI 96720
Designation: Factory
Date established/designated: 1977
Date of my visit: April 16, 2019
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