BIG ISLAND CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL NAMES CULINARY, FARM WINNERS

BIG ISLAND CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL NAMES CULINARY, FARM WINNERS

WAIKOLOA, HAWAI‘I ISLAND—It was a triple win for the Fairmont Orchid, Hawai‘i at the recent Big Island Chocolate Festival, taking Best Savory in both the judge’s and people’s choice divisions and Best Decorated Booth.

Presented by the Kona Cacao Association (KCA), the 12th annual festival was a three-day celebration of chocolate that included a guided farm tour, agriculture seminars, culinary demos, competitions and the festive gala. Creations by chefs, chocolatiers and culinary students were critiqued on taste, texture, appearance and creativity by a team of celebrity judges during two days of competitions. Attendees voted for their favorite gala participants in the People’s Choice Awards at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.

Fairmont’s winning culinary crew of Executive Pastry Chef Daniel Sampson, Giacomo Savia and Executive Chef Zaid Khan wowed the 400 gala attendees with Blackberry and Cocoa-Glazed Short Rib with Pickled Maui Onions and ‘Ulu Foam. To depict the theme “Cirque de Chocolate-A Whimsical World of Chocolate Wonders,” Chef Sampson donned a ringmaster hat while waving a trail of vapor amid circus signs and culinary treats issued with circus tickets.

Chef Helen Hong of the Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection took Best Plated Dessert with her standout White Chocolate & Strawberry offering. Chef Hong instructed how to prepare the stylish cookie-mousse, which was crowned by a light and airy strawberry “lava rock” topping, during one of the festival’s earlier culinary demonstrations. Kohanaiki marked its first festival appearance with Head Pastry Chef Melina Ramirez and Chef Robert Gabriel earning the People’s Choice Award for Best Sweet.

Among six entries, Rivah Winter and Johann Besserer of Kona Restoration Farm in Honaunau earned Best Cacao Bean while Leleaka was tied with Dylan Bunnell for Best Bean to Bar Chocolate. Judging these farm-based entries were Dr. Nat Bletter, Dr. Raven Hanna, Maddy Smith, Gini Choobua and Ann Tuomela.

For Friday’s college culinary competition, teams of students from Kapi‘olani Community College participated in the annual Student Plated Dessert Competiton. Earning first place was Tani Oshita and Desiree Fleming while Spencer Leung and Guylen Shimabukuro took second.

Retiring Chef Fernand Guiot, long-time instructor at Hawai’i Community College-Palamanui, received a plaque in appreciation for his many years of service to local culinary students.

“We honor the sweet legacy of Chef Fernand, whose passion and dedication delighted our palates and enriched our community over the years,” said KCA President Farsheed Bonakdar. “As a pastry chef, he turned sugar and flour into unforgettable experiences. As a mentor at Palamanui, he inspired and shaped the next generation of culinary talent with patience, precision and heart.”

Chefs judging the culinary competitions hailed from throughout the state and Mainland: Stéphane Tréand, MOF Patissier and international pastry shop consultant; Vitaly Paley, chef in residence at Chefs & Table; Frederic Hoffman, executive chef of Hilton Waikoloa Village; Stevie-Ray Walker of Maui’s Wailea Beach Resort; Ippy Aiona of Ippy’s Hawaiian BBQ,  Jeremy Choo of King’s Hawaiian and Martin Rathbun of Marty Cakes & Company.

Additional festival winners are the 2025 beneficiaries: Kona Dance & Performing Arts, Hawai‘i Keiki Museum and ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association. Prior to the festival’s farm-based seminars, the museum shared progress of its new cacao-based learning project. Integrating agriculture, play and machine learning, the fun teaches keiki about cacao through an arcade game. The project is a collaboration with California’s Harvey Mudd College and Kanu o Ka ‘Aina Public Charter School.

The date for the 2026 Big Island Chocolate Festival is April 23-25.

BIG ISLAND CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL The mission and goal of the Kona Cacao Association is to promote the cacao industry on the Big Island of Hawai‘i by presenting the Big Island Chocolate Festival as an educational and outreach opportunity for local cacao farmers, the hospitality industry and cacao enthusiasts. Mahalo to 2025 Big Island Chocolate Festival sponsors: Hawai‘i Tourism Authority through the Community Enrichment Program, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, Valrhona, Tastes of Aloha, Cocoa Outlet, Guittard Chocolate Company, Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory, KGH Catering, Viking Bags, Patricioʻs Taqueria, Sysco, Chamber of Sustainable Commerce, Kona Brewing Company, Ola Brew, Kona Coffee & Tea, Volcano Winery and Atalanta Corporation. www.bigislandchocolatefestival.com @BIChocoFest