Diana Duff: Puna Chocolate Company

In the chilled rooms at the back of the Kona Chocolate Shop, Puna Chocolate making is in process. (Diana Duff/Special to West Hawaii Today)

Some creative chocolate centered drinks are featured on the Bar Menu at Puna Chocolate in Kona. (Diana Duff/Special to West Hawaii Today)

Puna Chocolate not only makes and sells chocolate but also oversees the careful planting of cacao trees on each of their new farms. (Photo from/punachocolate.com)

Dark chocolate bars from different areas of the Big Island are featured in Puna Chocolate stores. (Photo by/thechocolateprofessor.com)

Partner, Ben Vanegtern has become a cacao expert for his company, Puna Chocolate. (Photo by/thechocolateprofessor.com)

Imagine two smart guys who are knee deep in chocolate today. They would be Adam Potter and Ben Vanegtern, the owners of Puna Chocolate Company. The pair met when they were in the military in San Diego and became fast friends with a dream of having some land to farm in Hawaii. Though everything seemed out of reach financially, they came upon a deal for 65 forested acres in Puna in 2011.