12 Food & Drink Experiences in Hawaii to Build a Day Around

1.Maui Ku’ia Estate Guided Cacao Farm Tour and Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,103 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $99Our pick

Start at Ku’ia Estate’s Lahaina chocolate factory, then ride to a 20-acre cacao farm in the West Maui foothills. A guide such as Mandy, Steph, Brandy, or Shawn explains growing and harvesting before a nine-piece tasting in a treehouse. Expect stairs, about 20 minutes of walking, and mostly dark chocolate.

“Uniqe experience, informative tour with delicious chocolates in a beautiful surroundings. Highly recommended.”

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2.Oahu Catamaran Waikiki Sunset on 40 Foot Catamaran: Food and BYOB

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 836 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $44

Spend about two hours on a 40-foot catamaran sailing from Ala Moana toward Diamond Head and Waikiki. Captain Krash, Captain Carlos, Shannon, Lucy, Holly, and other crew members have hosted this relaxed cruise, sometimes with the friendly dogs Sushi and Mona aboard. Expect sunset views, light pupus, music, and BYOB for guests over 21.

“We left on time , got a cooler to use , Had some snacks and appetizers,fruits and veggies and humus with pita chips , cheese charcuterie and crackers ready right at the beginning of the trip I enjoyed the choice of music that was themed and well picked - 80-it's , 90ies , Abba etc. Love it ! Thanknyou!”

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3.Princeville Botanical Gardens Tour and Chocolate Tasting Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 774 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $126

Walk Princeville Botanical Gardens with guides such as Troy, Lauren, or Zoe, sampling tropical fruit, honey, cacao nibs, and at least five single-origin chocolates. Expect terraces, creek beds, stairs, hills, loose gravel, and generous shade. Walking sticks, umbrellas, and organic bug spray are provided.

“Beautiful grounds, knowledgeable tour guide, great tasting spots. A hidden spot in Princeville and wonderful experience!”

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4.Kauai Chocolate Farm Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 666 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $145

Spend about three hours at Lydgate Farms with guides such as Jess, Mason, Sheri, Brooke, or Jenna. Walk the botanical gardens, taste cacao fruit, tropical produce, honey, vanilla, and farm-made chocolate, and learn how Hawaiian cacao becomes a bar. Children must be over 7.

“Interesting tour, but a little long. Could be done in two hours. Jenna talked too much but knew what she was talking about.”

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5.Hawaii Off The Beaten Path Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 665 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $150

Victor and TJ lead a three-hour, food-heavy tour through downtown Honolulu and Chinatown, with hotel pickup in Waikiki or Honolulu. Expect generous tastings of poke, sashimi, roast meats, Filipino dishes, tropical fruit, sweets, and local drinks, plus stories about Hawaii’s many cultures. Most of the tour is spent standing or walking.

“This was such a fun experience! TJ & Victor were fun and took us to mom & pop places and we tried 17 different foods. They even picked us up at our hotel. Took great care of us. We would highly recommend!”

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6.Oahu in a Day: Waterfall – Food Trucks – Lookouts – Small Crowds

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 475 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $179

Spend about 10 hours circling Oahu with a guide such as Mac, Chris, Emily, Andrew, or Kurt. Visit Waimea Waterfall, Haleiwa, North Shore food trucks, Byodo-In Temple, coastal lookouts, and Leonard’s Bakery. Hotel pickup, entry fees, a malasada, and guide-taken photos are included.

“Chris was an excellent tour guide! We spent the whole day exploring Oahu. I strongly suggest this tour for tweens and teenagers. My family had a great time.”

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7.Kona Walking Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 402 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $155

Walk from Kailua Pier through historic Kailua-Kona with guides such as Ellie and Kai, stopping for small plates, local drinks, poke, chowder, musubi, fish, and gelato. The nearly three-hour tour serves enough food to fill you, includes views of Hulihe'e Palace, Mokuaikaua Church, and Ahuena Heiau, and ends about half a mile from the pier.

“Come hungry, wear walking shoes and bug spray. Try everything - all was delicious.. One of our favorites was the white pineapple shorbet”

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8.Food Tour of Kaua’i

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 338 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $125

Taste Kauai specialties at locally owned eateries while guides such as Susan and Lisa share island history, culture, and food stories. Choose a route in Kilauea, Koloa, Kapaa, Hanapepe, Lihue, or Hanalei. Tours last about three to four hours, include food and drinks, and are designed for one private group, though you may need a car between stops.

“Susan was our guide and we had a fun food tour! Tasted 4 different island specialities and learned some history and culture along with it.”

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9.Walking Food Tour Exploring Hanalei

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 282 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $139

Meet your guide at Hanalei Center for a two-hour walk through town, stopping at local eateries for generous tastings such as taro fritters, poke, pepper chicken, kalua pork, juice, chocolate, and doughnuts. Guides including Max and Nalu add local food knowledge and Hawaiian history. Bring walking shoes, sunscreen, water, and an appetite.

“The food tour was amazing. Our guide for the tour was super informative and made sure that everyone was involved.”

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10.Kō Hana Hawaiian Rum Distillery Tour and Tasting for One

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 238 reviews · 45 minutes to 1 hour (approx.) · from $25Best value

Visit Kō Hana Distillers in historic Kunia for a 45 to 60 minute guided tour. You’ll taste fresh cane juice, see heirloom sugarcane and the barrel room, then sample four rums or cocktails. Guides such as JJ, Emily, Andy, and Bernadette explain the process with humor. The small group is limited to 15 people.

“JJ and Kaylee were so amazing!! JJ taught us so much about the whole process of creating the Ko’Hana runs. We enjoyed it immensely!”

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11.Big Island Hawaii: Craft Chocolate Tasting and Farm Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 3h 30m · from $130

Spend 3.5 hours at Honolii Orchards near Hilo with guides such as Wren and Jude. Walk the cacao orchard, visit the fermentation room, learn chocolate history, and taste at least 10 Hawaiian bars plus cacao juice, tea, roasted beans, and farm treats.

“The Owner of the Farm did a great job explaining everything and showing is around. Also the choclate testing was amazing.”

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12.Abalone Farm Guided Tour with Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $31

At Big Island Abalone, guide Kale leads you through a working, 100% organic and sustainable farm. You’ll learn about deep-water research, breeding, growth stages, and dulse seaweed tanks, then taste grilled abalone in its shell and canned abalone. The one-hour tour costs $31 and ends at the farm office.

“Kale is nice and introduced a lot of fun facts about abalones. We had a great time. Recommend the garlic butter abalone.”

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