The Na'alehu Theatre invites you to
8th Annual
Kona Chocolate Festival & Symposium
April 4, 2009
Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa
April 4, 2009
Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa
The 2008 Chocolate Symposium was a three day educational experience that brings together pastry Chefs, culinary experts, Chocolatiers, Cacao farmers, regional and national educators, and representatives of the chocolate industry together with families, chocolate mavens and connoisseurs to create a multi-day immersion in “The World of Chocolate.” Workshops for cooks, farmers, chocolate lovers, and families are all part of the annual Chocolate Symposium in the Kona Chocolate Festival.
Symposium Areas Include:
The vision of the Chocolate Symposium is an integrated and educated World of Chocolate and promotion of Hawaiian cacao agriculture. The mission of the symposium is to provide opportunities to engage in hands-on interactive education experiences in the world of cacao and chocolate. The values of the symposium include sustainability, education, community empowerment, creativity, adventure, and integrity in quality and style, with workshops for the whole community.
Hawaii Farmers are especially welcome to attend a great selection of cacao-grower and chocolate-lover events hosted by the Kona Chocolate Festival and Kona Pacific Waldorf School. The burgeoning cacao industry in Hawaii encourages new plantings of cacao on local farms - come see best practice suggestions for fermentation of the beans, organic care, inter-plantings, market opportunities and more. Current cacao farmers will benefit from the agricultural and processing expertise of our speakers, and those farmers considering adding cacao to their orchards will gain on-farm experience by seeing how cacao is being successfully grown in Hawaii. Come support this emerging crop and learn about the local-to-international market for the unique niche crop of Hawaiian Cacao.
9:00 am - 10:00 am - For Chocolate Lovers - With Cathy Smoot Barrett, Owner - Free
(Kailua Candy Company is on the corner of Kamanu Street & Kauholo Street between Home Depot & Costco in the Koloko Industrial Area.)
The Kailua Candy Company is a second generation family business originally started by Jack & Ginney Smoot and now operated by Cathy and Robin and a fine staff of Kona folks. They have been hand making unique candies and chocolates from the finest, freshest ingredients for over 24 years. All items are made in small batches with great care to produce only the finest quality. Selected as one of the top ten chocolate shops in the USA by Bon Appetit, this is a chocolate experience not to be missed! Cathy will lead us on a tour of their brand new expanded factory; see firsthand all the aspects of making world class chocolates. Must have regular shoes (not flip flops) and a hat. Space limited to 20 people. Reservations required, call 987-8722
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. $40 per person- The Mixx Bistro Bar next to Kona Wine Market in the King Kamehameha Mall
Mixx Bistro, Kona Wine Market, and Theo Chocolate present an evening that is to die for if thee be a chocolate and wine lover. Join our special guest Chocolatier Autumn Martin of Theo Chocolates of Seattle with an evening of tasting organic, certified fair trade chocolate from around the world. Single origin chocolates and delectable truffleswill be paired with wines hand selected by Fern Desilets of Kona Wine Market. Workshop includes pupus. Plan to stay after the workshop to enjoy salsa dancing at the Mixx and practice for the Chocolate Festival! Reservations Required: (808) 987-8722
10:30 to 12:00 PM
12:30 -1:30 pm (soap store shopping time, too) at Kona Natural Soaps and Kokoleka Lani Farms, $5 per person – Phone 987-8722
Join us for a tour of this fascinating cacao farm and soap factory. Kona Natural Soap Company has spent the last 2 and a half years researching and creating different soap formulas to discover that one particular combination that is quite exotic and exceptional. Their combination of natural oils, essential oil scents, natural exfolients and pure Hawaiian rain water help create one of the most authentic Hawaiian made soaps available, with ingredients that are environmentally friendly and contain natural Hawaiian ingredients.
Hwy 11 to Dept of Water Supply road (just past mile marker 116); left to Mamalahoa, left 500 yards to 78-6749 Mamalahoa, on your right side, concrete driveway directly across from Samarai Company. Drive to top of driveway for parking instructions.
2:30 to 3:30
Learn the basics of making a hand rolled chocolate ganache, a rich and full-bodied essential chocolate dessert. Professional Chocolatier Autumn Martin of Theo Chocolate in Seattle, WA will be demonstrating one of her innovative, fresh ganaches. She will focus on local, organic ingredients that, combined with Theo Chocolate, will leave all of your senses dancing! Click here for more info on Autumn Martin
3:45-4:30
Come Meet MXI ~ Xocai: The Healthy Chocolate Revolution
Presentation includes DVD "Xocai, In the News"; Dr. Warren, MD, "The Benefits of Dark Chocolate & Antioxidants" and "Chocolate, It's a Beautiful Thing". Joy will be serving scrumptious healthy chocolate fondue on fruit. This is a symposium you shouldn't miss. Visit her booth at the Evening Benefit Gala for more healthy chocolate tasting's, Saturday, March 29, 6:00-10:00 PM.
10:00 am at the Original Hawaiiian Chocolate Factory
$10 per person. Reservations Required: 987-8722
78-6772 Kahoolele St (Take Hwy 11 to Kamehameha III Rd, turn uphill on Kamehameha III Rd., turn right onto Walua Rd, Kahoolele is first left, farm factory is up on the right side)
Join us for this fascinating tour of Bob and Pam Cooper’s farm and factory, the only location in an industrialized nation where chocolate is developed from cacao trees to final delicious product. Bob gives a wonderful tour through his cacao orchard, the fermentation and drying processing center and the factory where the beans are processed into fabulous chocolate, and finally, a chance to taste samples and shop. This tour is wonderful for interested farmers, chocolate lovers and visitors to our island, to see a great example of the development of cacao agriculture on the Kona coast and to experience first-hand the difference of 100% pure Hawaiian Chocolate!
11:30 - 12:30 am at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa
Join us for this amazing demonstration workshop on creating drinking chocolates, using innovative ingredients that will wakeup your taste buds.
1:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Workshop free
You are invited to attend this special workshop about Chocolate Pampering. Join the specialists from Hula Skin at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa and discover some of the benefits of Chocolate Spa treatments, including recipes and demonstrations. Smell, touch and learn about chocolate infused body care products, including Chocolate waxing and sample the beauty of our exotic food as a wellness treat. Pure decadance with no calories.
6:00pm – 10:00pm Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa- $40 advance, $50 at door
Join us for the celebration of chocolate. Regional Chefs, Ice Cream, and Candy makers gather for a night of decadence under the starry Hawaiian skies. Live music, chocolate body art, silent auction, regional chocolate competition, and more. Festival Tickets available online here or phone: (808) 987-8722
More special guests and surprises to come, please check back often for new additions!
The goal of the Chocolate Symposium is to present topics in the World of Chocolate that matter to consumers, growers, and business’ in chocolate while keeping a fun and family oriented approach to education and involvement of the whole community. The Chocolate Symposium is a forum for voices in chocolate production, contemporary and traditional creations of chocolate, and for presenting techniques and tasting sessions that empower people to be conscious and cultivated chocolate consumers for health and happiness.
For information call: Mike Braun 808-987-8722 or
email: symposium@konachocolatefestival.com