Sweet Treats, Tours At Cacao Fest Sunday

The state’s sweetest month is coming to an end, but FarmLovers will wrap up Hawaii Grown Cacao Month in style with its third annual Hawaii Cacao Festival, set for 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Kailua Elementary School.

During the festival, farmers and food artisans will share the magic they use to transform the bitter cocoa bean into the most delightful chocolate. Guided walking tours begin at 9:30 and 10 a.m. to visit Kailua’s own chocolate havens: Kokolani Chocolate, Manoa Chocolate, Madre Chocolate and Whole Foods Market. Participants will learn why supporters of the Bean-to-Bar Movement think they can create better chocolate by controlling the process all the way from the bean to the completed chocolate bar, as well as why Kailua is known as Choc-Kailua.

More than 40 booths also will be open on site for the weekly Kailua Town Farmers Market, which offers live music by Paul Izak & Seeds of Love at the market café. (Cacao trees will be available for sale.)

Hawaii is the only state in the nation that can grow cacao, and FarmLovers wants to give more attention to the cocoa bean in order to further develop the local industry.

For more information call 388-9696.