The fifth annual Big Island Chocolate Festival is May 13-14 with events headquartered from the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. This year’s theme is: “Lavalicious-A Chocolate Salute to the 100th Birthday of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.”
The two-day chocolate extravaganza includes a cacao plantation tour at Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory, a college culinary competition and several public foodie and agriculture-themed seminars. Activities culminate 5:30-9 p.m. May 14 with the indoor-outdoor festival gala.
General admission tickets to the gala are $75 and VIP tickets are $100 and include early event access at 5 p.m., table seating and specialty wines.
This year’s event celebrates the 100th birthday of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and culinary booths will be judged on how they best depict the event theme that could include Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, Hawaiian culture and the park’s native plants and animals. Biology, geology and culture define the 333,086-acre national park, which was established Aug. 1, 1916.
Culinary stations will also be vying for awards in a variety of categories judged by a panel of celebrity chefs: “best” bonbon, savory, bean-to-bar, plated dessert and Hawaiian cacao. Attendees can get in on the friendly voting by casting a ballot for two People’s Choice Awards: Best Savory and Best Sweet.
Festivities will include fine wines and handcrafted ales, chocolate sculptures — including one of the largest volcanoes ever created using fine chocolate, chocolate body painting, live entertainment, dancing and a silent auction.
Presented by the Kona Cacao Association, event proceeds benefit the ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association/University of Hawaii endowment fund for the culinary arts program at Hawaii Community College-Palamanui and programs at Kona Pacific Public Charter School in Kealakekua.
“We are happy to commemorate the centennial of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at the Big Island Chocolate Festival,” said KCA President Farsheed Bonakdar. “We look forward to the new booth decorating contest and how our theme will inspire participants.”
Info: www.BigIsland ChocolateFestival.com. ■