This expression Wholly Cacao did not come to us overnight. A few years into guiding these tours, the expression came about by how little cacao is grown in the state of Hawaii, and even less on Maui. It is our enthusiast’s opinion, that of all the Hawaiian islands, Maui grows the least amount of cacao.

You may wonder, how did we come to this conclusion? Here on the Valley Isle, we have the strongest tradewinds with Ma’alea Harbor being the second windiest harbor in the world with the first windiest being in New Zealand. Cacao 101: Cacao doesn’t like wind! Wind and the price of land are the two important factors as to why there is so little cacao grown on Maui.

There are plenty of “backyard” growers of cacao, but not all of them are processing their cacao into chocolate. That’s what we do! Maui Chocolate and Coffee Tours has been foraging for cacao since 2020.

We have come to be friends with another type of forager on Oahu. Nat Bletter, aka, Natty by Nature and the owner and flavor Meister of Madre Chocolate. He has been a mentor for many chocolate makers in the Hawaiian islands, Hana Gold, Island Sharks on the Big Island, Nine Fine Mynahs on Oahu, 21 Degrees on Oahu, Lydegate Farms on Kauai, and yours truly here at Maui Chocolate and Coffee Tours.

On that note, that leads us to how Wholly Cacao is bringing our cacao to chocolate experience in the luxury and privacy of your private residence. We have a few private chefs that have already experienced our Wholly Cacao service, they have added us to their repertoire as an appetizer (chocolate, cheese and charcuterie), dessert (chocolate paired with your favorite adult beverage; wine, whisky, beer, etc or your favorite non-alcoholic beverage). The first two private chefs who were inspired and have utilized Wholly Cacao’s services are Chef  Jana McMahon and A Private Chef Katarina Tualemoso. We are happy to extend our service to other private chefs, and hotel conceirges who have clients with sophisticated and  discriminating palates, and of course sense of humor! That may ring a bell from a previous business, Who Cut the Cheese, “Where sophispticated product is presented in a fun and friendly environment and a place for those with fine taste and a sense of humor!” Those who understood us, got the goods with fun and friendly service. We look forward to bringing that type of experience with chocolate into people’s homes

Cheers and we look forward to rocking the cacao/chocolate experience off the farm and into your home!

Your cacao forager and chocolate maker,
Ann Tuomela