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Pure hawaiian vanilla extract.

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Extra-strength Hawaiian Vanilla Extract

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Estate Grown Hawaiian Vanilla Coffee

Established in 1998.

The Hawaiian Vanilla Co. is established at our family dinner table.

Jim passes away at the beginning of the year, surrounded by family and leaving a legacy.

New Beginnings

Ian, Jim, and Tracy's eldest son takes over the reins in continuing his fathers legacy. 

Taste & Visit Our Vanilla Vineyard

Discover the intensive process of vanilla production and taste the magic yourself with our Hawaiian Vanilla Co. inspired luncheon and Vineyard Tour.

Mon-Sat 12:30pm-2:30pm

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Hawaiian Vanilla Farm Tour, North of Hilo

Tour the farm of the first commercial vanilla grower in the United States. Learn all about how vanilla is grown, harvested, and processed on this Hawaiian Vanilla Tour. Plus you’ll get to sit down for a vanilla themed lunch or simply enjoy tastings.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase through my links we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Read about our affiliate policies here .

Activity Overview

• Departs From: Big Island – Hilo (and the East side)
• Duration: 1-2 hours
• Included in the price: Tastings or lunch & a tour of the farm

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Hawaiian Vanilla Tour Highlights

• The farm tour only runs daily at 11:00 am and 1:15 pm, the farm tour luncheon runs Monday through Saturday at 12:30 pm.
• Located on the Hamakua Coast, northwest Hawaii, 50 minutes north of Hilo ( click for directions )
• Up to 28 guests for the luncheon and 12 guests for the farm tour
• Enjoy a vanilla-themed lunch or light treats and tour the farm to learn about how vanilla is grown and processed.
• All ages are welcome!

Watch our experience at the Hawaiian Vanilla Co.

Our family visited the Hawaiian Vanilla Co. after a newsletter reader sent us a glowing review. We loved our experience and bought a vanilla extract kit which will be done in 6-9 months!

Watch our farm tour experience below and then book the tour right for you!

Hawaiian Vanilla Tour Details

Take your choice between their farm tour luncheon and their farm tour only, giving you a nice taste of the vanilla they grow and harvest while learning about the process.

We opted for the farm tour only and loved the presentation under the tent in the growing area. It was entertaining, informative, and interactive. Our 5-year-old happily sat through it. We loved the vanilla iced tea to start the tour and ending the tour with the vanilla tasting was a perfect way to embrace everything we learned about vanilla.

The location is gorgeous on the Hamakua Coast. The Vanilla Farm is an old coffee mill, so it’s steeped in local history. This is a great short activity or nice lunch stop if you’re staying in Hilo or making a day trip from Kailua-Kona.

About the Hawaiian Vanilla Co.

Founded in 1998, the Hawaiian Vanilla Co. was the first commercial vanilla grower in the US. It started as a family vision and has remained family-owned and operated, with the founder’s son, Ian, taking over operations in 2020.

We are affiliate partners with Hawaiian Vanilla Co., meaning we receive a small commission for each completed booking made through this site. This is done without any additional cost to you. You can read more about our affiliate policies here. Know that we only recommend tour operators that we know and trust. Your positive experience and trust in us mean more than any affiliate commission. By booking tours through our website you help us to provide free information and videos to help you and other readers plan their perfect Hawaii vacation. Thank you so much for your support — you are amazing!

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How To Visit A Vanilla Farm In Hawaii

Updated: Oct 7, 2023 by Max · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

Have you ever thought about where vanilla comes from?

The plant, Vanilla planifola , is native to Mexico, but now grows on a vine in tropical locations around the world. The largest growing regions at the moment are in Madagascar and Indonesia.And like the chocolate tree , vanilla comes from a fermented fruit grown from one of the pollinated flower grown on those vanilla vines.

Vanilla flowers are a type of orchid, in fact. That flower you see on the front of so many vanilla yogurt containers is actually a vanilla orchid. But while the flowers are beautiful and fragrant in their own right, once they're pollinated they turn into the most expensive spice in the world. Right now it costs more than silver . And Hawaii actually produces that spice. While vanilla isn't going to be popping up in the most popular Hawaiian dishes anytime soon, it's unquestionably on the up & up on the islands.

Hawaiian Vanilla Company Tours

Vanilla farm hawaii: the menu, the hawaii vanilla farm tour, would we do it again, hawaiian vanilla company tour: prices & options, other places to find hawaiian vanilla beans, map to the hawaiian vanilla company.

When I was looking to tour a vanilla farm Hawaii was the first place I wanted to go. It's a paradise for chocolate lovers , after all, so it makes sense that there would be places to see vanilla growing, as well. To my gratification, I found a few places! The most appealing place seemed to be Hawaiian Vanilla Company , which also happens to be one of the biggest & oldest sources of Hawaiian vanilla beans.

Two types of tours are offered on this family-run & family-owned vanilla farm. Tour Option 1 offers a farm tour with a scoop of ice cream at the end, and Tour Option 2 offers all of that plus a vanilla-themed lunch. My companion, Barefoot Chocolatini , & I opted for Tour Option 2, lunch and all.

The longer tour begins with some basic background on vanilla cultivation, and then the main meal. They wanted to make sure everyone is fed and ready to head out to the farm, so this is the perfect time to get to know some of your tour mates! When you arrive you'll choose your drink (vanilla lemonade, vanilla sweet tea, or half tea & half lemonade) and settle in with some potential new friends. Next will be the tour!

See below for more information on visiting the farm, or click here to make a reservation.

With the "Vanilla Experience" tour option comes a full lunch, in which each item is made with Hawaiian vanilla beans, in some capacity. Here's a look at the lunch, with each item described in the caption.

After they've given you a bevy of perspectives on their main product, one of the owner's family gathers everyone up to tell them more about how Hawaii's first large-scale vanilla farm came to be. I won't spoil all of the details, but the farm started as the dream of an elderly Japanese man, was carried on by a transplant from Oahu, and continues open-ended with a 5-person crew (all of whom are siblings or cousins).

Starting outside their farmhouse, your tour guide will take you down the road to a clearing overlooking their closest greenhouse. There you'll learn more about life in rural Hawaii, the plants cultivated on The Big Island , and how the family came to run the largest vanilla plantation in America.

Heading down into the greenhouse, if you've timed your visit right, you'll get to see vanilla at each of its stages of life. The best time to visit a vanilla farm on Hawaii is in March or April, when all of the vanilla orchids are blooming but there are some flowers turning into the fruits (which we call vanilla "beans" once they're fermented & dried).

From the vanilla vines with their pods to some flowers, I'll leave the story of the baby binky for when you visit in person, but suffice it to say that there is a logical explanation. Well, as logical as some things can be on the Big Island. If you get rained on, the family has umbrellas for you to borrow, but I'd recommend bringing one of your own, or a rain jacket.

Once you've gotten your fill of the farm and had a Q & A session, it's back to the farm for a video and some vanilla ice cream. The video was produced by The Food Network back in the early 2000's, and tells a little more about the overall background of Hawaiian vanilla. But the ice cream, while made with the farm's vanilla, was made by an ice cream company on another island.

If you like affogatos, I'd recommend you save your ice cream to have with the coffee they serve once the video ends. I was very glad I did!

We enjoyed the tour itself enough, but as a self-proclaimed foodie, I can't say that the lunch was worth the extra $20. The chicken was dry and the drinks were just okay, though the actual vanilla products they were showcasing within the lunch were scrumptious.

So as much as I'd like to support the family, I'd spend that additional money buying their vanilla sauces in the gift shop if I could do it over again. They also have a nice selection of chap sticks and high quality vanilla pods, but on the cooking end I'd recommend the aforementioned sauces & spice rubs (the rub they serve on the potatoes at lunch is delicious).

At the end of your tour, other than the coffee, you also get a postcard to send anywhere in the US. As long as you properly address it, they'll send it for you, which is a sweet little token of appreciation. Overall, I enjoyed the tour of the Hawaiian Vanilla Company and learned quite a bit, but would recommend the shortened version in the future.

Tours are offered on week days at 1pm, or 12:30pm if you opt for lunch. The basic tour includes your drink of choice, the vanilla presentation and farm tour, as well as ice cream & coffee afterwards; the price is $25USD per person. The "Vanilla Experience" option adds lunch into the mix, and costs $48USD per adult & $28USD per child.

Reservations are required for all tours, and you must pay in advance. Prices are accurate as of April 2019, and do not include the 10% taxes & fees.

Click here to make a reservation.

If you're unable to make it all the way to the northeastern side of the Big Island, there are some alternatives to the Hawaiian Vanilla Company.

Closer to Hilo, the main city on the eastern shore of the Big Island, there is Sharkey's Coffee & Cacao Farm, where the Sharkey family grows a variety of plants, but focuses on coffee, cacao, and vanilla. They're one of the few farms on the island growing a relatively large amount of vanilla, and they're huge proponents of other farmers adding vanilla vines to other fruit trees already growing on their property.

If you can't make it on one of the Sharkey family's tours (see the above picture), you can still visit their cafe just north of Hilo to pick up some real Hawaiian vanilla beans, or visit their stand at the Hilo Farmers' Market. On the other side of the Big Island is Huahua Farm , a family farm focusing on vanilla. Their farm is located in Holualoa, just south of Kailua, and even though they're not currently offering farm tours, you can order their products online. They sell macadamia nuts, Kona coffee, vanilla sugar, and Hawaiian vanilla beans.

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Reader Interactions

April 21, 2019 at 1:53 am

LOVE this! We’ve been to a cocoa bean farm but never a vanilla bean farm. And as a former pastry chef, I know how valuable quality vanilla beans are so I would love to do this! Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

April 21, 2019 at 11:56 am

Of course, Christina! I'm glad you've made it over to my corner of the internet. You're welcome to virtually tour the farm with me... or head on over to the Big Island and visit it yourself! I know which I'd choose. 😉

April 21, 2019 at 12:18 am

I love farm tours. It’s so fascinating to see where our food comes from, who grows and to eat directly at the farm. I would love to visit this vanilla farm.

April 21, 2019 at 11:55 am

That's how I feel about it all! Every time I learn how complicated a food is, I'm always immediately more fascinated by it. Must be a curious bone in everybody!

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The Vanillerie

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Vanilla luncheon and farm tour.

Take an educational walk through a working Hawaiian vanilla farm where you will learn about growing and processing vanilla directly from the local family farmers. Our Vanilla Luncheon offers a vanilla inspired meal featuring gourmet recipes developed in our Vanilla kitchen. Beginning at our mill site, lunch is served first, followed by a Vanilla 101 presentation.

What to Expect

We start the day with a delicious gourmet vanilla inspired lunch.

First serving is a welcome beverage of Vanilla Lemonade, Vanilla Ice Tea or a “Jimmy Boy” half Vanilla Lemonade, half Vanilla ice tea – Named after our owner Jim Reddekopp. Next we serve an "amuse" of garam masala shrimp cooked in vanilla butter served on a crostini with our vanilla pineapple chutney.

The main course includes a Vanilla Bourbon Marinated Chicken Breast on a Vanilla Sweet Bread Bun. Topped with caramelized onions with two sauces to choose from. One is Vanilla Barbecue Sauce and the other is a Vanilla Mango Chutney Aioli. Your salad is topped with a Vanilla Raspberry Balsamic Dressing, Vanilla Honey Peppered Pecans and feta cheese. You potatoes are baked in a Vanilla Southwest Rub.

Finally Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for dessert. Complimentary coffee service included.

After the lunch we enjoy a leisurely flat walk with a minor hill that is approachable for everyone. Our walking tour takes you through the inner-workings of this family owned farm and processing operation. You will learn about vanilla's growing cycle, the Hawaiian climate, all the different cultural and culinary uses for vanilla, how it is processed, and so much more. Your tour guide is friendly and enthusiastic about vanilla and about the farm while offering exception insight into the science and and complex art of growing vanilla.

It is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes and in winter months bring a light windbreaker or sweater.

• Leisurly 1/4 mile farm walking tour
• Friendly family owned tour guide
• Educational and entertaining presentation
• Gourmet vanilla luncheon

Farm Tour Only Option

During booking, choose "Farm Tour Only" to skip the luncheon and just participate in the educational walking tour of the locally owned Vanilla Farm.

Price includes a welcome beverage of Vanilla Lemonade or Vanilla Ice Tea, the Vanilla Presentation, dessert and tour of the farm.

43-2007 Paauilo Mauka Rd. Paauilo Hawaii 96776

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24 hour Cancellation Policy. Events are non-refundable if cancelled within 24 hours of event start.

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The Vanillerie

Tour, taste, and treasure hand-grown vanilla.

The Vanillerie offers one of the most unique tour experiences in Kona, Hawaii., making it one of our top things to do near Kona. Perfect for all ages, you’ll discover the fascinating history of vanilla and witness the intensive process necessary to achieve the rich flavors and aromas of the world’s second most expensive spice. What starts as a vanilla orchid that needs to be hand-pollinated, it then becomes a green-colored bean which grows for 9 months until it’s ready to be harvested. Tour this small vanilla farm and learn how these green beans become the classic brown bean we all know and love. See, smell, and feel the vanilla orchids in various stages of buds, blooms, and beans in the shaded rooms. Breathe in the intoxicating smells as you tour the humidor where the vanilla beans slowly dry out; and, finally, indulge in a decadent dish of homemade vanilla bean ice cream-just one of the fruits of this labor of vanilla love.

An array of vanilla-infused artisanal foods and body products are available, as well as Kona Vanilla Beans and DIY Extract Kits, allowing you to take a piece of your experience at Vanillerie in Kona home with you. The Vanillerie Kona is 7 miles from our resort on Hawaii’s Big Island.

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Hawaiian Vanilla Company Tour Review Big Island: Worth It?

Is the Hawaiian Vanilla Company Tour on the Big Island Hawaii worth it?

Besides coffee, chocolate, and sea salt farms, the Big Island of Hawaii also has a vanilla farm.

Hawaiian Vanilla Company not only grows vanilla and gives tours, they even offer an exclusive vanilla themed luncheon with every dish incorporating vanilla in some way. 

While this is a totally unique experience on the Big Island, unless you are already in the Hamakua Coast area, maybe getting malasadas at Tex Drive-In, coming here is a bit out of the way for the average visitor. So, is it worth the effort?

Let’s find out!

YES! Hawaiian Vanilla Company Tour Is Worth It!

Have a 3 course meal with vanilla as an ingredient in every dish!

Afterwards, tour the vanilla farm to see where it all came from.

Hawaiian Vanilla Company Tour

Hawaiian Vanilla Company is a family owned business that boasts being the first company to commercially grow vanilla in the United States. 

Stop by and shop their all-things vanilla gift shop or, better yet, pre-book on of their guided tours:

Hawaiian Vanilla Company Farm-Only Tour

The farm-only tour begins with a welcome vanilla lemonade or vanilla ice tea.

Your guide will take you through the property where the vanilla beans grow and explain how the farm cultivates, hand pollinates, and processes them.

Your tour concludes with a vanilla flavored dessert.

>> Book the Hawaiian Vanilla Company Farm-Only Tour Here! <<

Hawaiian Vanilla Company Vanilla Experience Luncheon & Farm Tour

If you want the complete vanilla experience, book the luncheon and farm tour .

Everything from the farm-only tour is included plus a 3 course meal.

Every single dish is infused with vanilla somehow like: vanilla bourbon marinated chicken sandwich, vanilla raspberry balsamic dressing on the salad, and roasted potatoes with a vanilla southwest rub.

Allot about 2hrs for this tour and luncheon.

>> Book the Hawaiian Vanilla Company Vanilla Experience Luncheon & Farm Tour Here! <<

Hawaiian Vanilla Company Review

I asked Big Island local, Fred de Ru, if the Hawaiian Vanilla Company tour is worth it. He says YES!

He goes on to tell about his experience with the Hawaiian Vanilla Company Vanilla Experience Luncheon & Farm Tour  .

Our daughter and son-in-law left us with a gift certificate to Hawaiian Vanilla Company in Paauillo on the Big Island, about forty miles north of Hilo . We finally had the time and opportunity to take advantage of the present and tried to book a reservation online. 

Unfortunately, the code on the gift certificate failed to register on the website so we resorted to making a phone call. We were very pleased they had an open spot on the day we hoped to go, which happened to be the very next day after calling. 

We live on the Island but at the far south end while the vanilla farm is on the far north end. But we were happy to have an interesting excursion even if it meant 5 hours of driving (2 ½ hours each way).

Getting to Hawaiian Vanilla Company

We came to the turn off and made a left to head uphill on the mauka side of the highway. Immediately we began ascending into the tropical mist for 2 ½ miles before reaching our destination. As is typical for Hawaii, the two lane road was quite narrow and even turned into a single lane as we crossed a small bridge. 

All the way up we passed large properties, large trees and lots and lots of greenery. I noticed on the car dash that the temperature dropped a couple of degrees as we climbed up hill. But we were not at all cold when we got out of the car. 

Paauillo is on the wet side of the island. Where the farm is located, it is normal to receive 160 inches of rain, on average, every year. It just so happened that we were coming out of a weeks-long dry spell and had chosen the first rainy day in over a month. But even the rain didn’t make us in the least bit uncomfortable.

Hawaiian Vanilla Company Gift Shop

The reservation time was 12:30 pm. We arrived about a half hour early allowing us time to browse the shelves in the farm store. 

We were given a $200 gift certificate but the cost of the lunch and tour only came to $156 for the two of us. That left $44 for buying something special to bring home. Brenda’s passion is confections, so she uses lots and lots of real vanilla (the fake stuff is not even allowed in the house!). 

Besides pure vanilla extract, there was extract made with whiskey and extract made with rum. There were several options of spice rubs with vanilla, vanilla granola, pancake and waffle mix with vanilla, corn bread mix, dressings and sauces. There were also a variety of non-edible treats such as soaps, room fresheners and lotions, all featuring their valuable tropical spice. 

What to buy? What to buy? It proved a tough decision so we decided to wait till after the tour.

Immediately upon entering the store we couldn’t help but notice the large opening in the wall that allowed us to view the kitchen. The aroma that emanated from there was subtle but exquisite. 

We both tried to figure out what it might be but couldn’t quite make it out. Perhaps it was some special bakery items or something sweet, maybe. It was at the same time familiar and unusual. The smell wafted to the dining area outside, too. “Mmmm, what is that?”

Aidan was the store host and, later, our waiter. He was talkative and engaging and quick with his jokes.

A child, probably only 3 years old, was bent over a very docile cat who calmly hung out inside with all the guests. 

Aidan told us about his pet, Missy, who began as a feral kitten in the neighborhood but had been adopted by him 16 years ago. She looked much younger, was very sleek, and completely at ease. Aidan joked that she exists on a “live action diet.” He doesn’t need to feed her because she feeds on the geckos and chameleons.

Lunch at Hawaiian Vanilla Company

Aidan is the youngest of the two siblings that maintain the business. Their father passed away in 2020 having started the business back in 1998. His hobby with orchids led to his developing and growing the farm slowly over time. 

Ian, the oldest brother, introduced himself when lunch was served, along with the introduction of the various foods which we all were about to consume. Every item contained vanilla as one of its ingredients , from the drinks to the appetizers, the entrée and the side dishes.

Brenda and I were the first to be seated. Before the meal was served Aidan brought us our drinks. Brenda had the Red Rainforest Ohia, a blend of lemonade, tea and, of course, vanilla. 

I had the more basic regular vanilla lemonade. What I found enjoyable was that it was neither too sweet nor too acidic. Later, Ian explained that one of the unique qualities of vanilla is that it has a tendency to round out flavors and combine and elevate them.

We were seated outside of the building in a patio that was covered with a clean, translucent corrugated roof. It felt like we were eating in an upscale greenhouse. The gentle tapping of rain continued throughout the meal but never inhibited our enjoyment of the experience, nor did the occasional gust of wind that fluttered the rafters.

After a small but wonderful shrimp appetizer, they brought out the main serving. We immediately discovered what had caused such an appealing fragrance we had enjoyed earlier. To our surprise, it was the potatoes which had been prepared with the extreme southwest spice rub. 

Wow! Absolutely sumptuous. 

Brenda is a vegetarian and was given a smoked brie puff pastry option rather than the chicken sandwich that I enjoyed. I received a pineapple chutney rather than the typical mango, which everyone else had, because I’m allergic to mangoes. 

Another special treat were the peppered pecans (pralines?) in the salad. Yum! Everything was marvelous and we were both well satisfied with our portions.

Desert was held back till after the tour of the vanilla vines. Perfect.

>> Check Rates and Availability for the Hawaiian Vanilla Co. Luncheon Experience Here! <<

Hawaiian Vanilla Company Farm Tour

We had brought our own umbrella but as it turns out, they provide umbrellas for the tour . I was glad to have one for myself. 

The walk to the shade house (screened in greenhouse) was all downhill on a very well paved driveway. However, if needed, they were prepared to give rides in a golf cart for anyone who felt they may not be able to make it back up. A group of twenty took part in the lunch but another 5 or 6 joined us for the tour.

Ian was a wealth of information, having been immersed in the business for so long. The tour was a single stop in the shade house where we could view the plants and hear the details surrounding their propagation and care.

I had a little inkling that maybe I should try growing vanilla. That was pushed out of my head quite quickly after I discovered the amount of work and care that goes into such an endeavor. They have traveled all over the world to learn the ins and outs of growing the best vanilla beans possible.

Besides needing very specific climate conditions and requiring hand pollination during a ridiculously short, four-hour flowering period, and besides a long nine-month fruiting period, the harvested beans are handled everyday for four months in the curing process. I think I’ll stick with tomatoes and let the pros handle the hard stuff.

Once back to the main building we all indulged in a serving of real vanilla ice cream. Exactly the right desert to end the tour.

We decided on a purchase from the store. We spent even more than what was still remaining from our gift and left with two bottles of three vanilla beans each. 

We are excited to try making our own vanilla extract. In fact, we picked up both vodka and rum on the way home. The beans will soak in alcohol for four to six months before they will be ready for one of Brenda’s special treats. Woohoo!

>> Check Rates and Availability for Hawaiian Vanilla Co. Farm-Only Tour Here! <<

Where to Stay Near Hawaiian Vanilla Company

There are no hotels near the Hawaiian Vanilla Company but you can find private rental units.

Historic Homestead Garden 2-Bed Apt

✅ Walking distance of vanilla farm

✅ Japanese-style wood soaking tub

✅ Fully-equipped kitchen

What is Vanilla?

We all know about vanilla ice cream, but do you know what vanilla is or where it comes from?

Vanilla is a spice native to Mexico that is actually an orchid. In fact, it’s the only edible fruit of the orchid family. There are over 150 varieties of vanilla, no two beans being the same.

In order to commercially produce vanilla, the flowers must be hand-pollinated, a tedious and time sensitive ordeal. Because of this, vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world, the first being saffron.

If vanilla is so expensive, then how is there cheap vanilla extract that flavors all your sweet treats? The “fake” vanilla is made with synthetic vanillin . 

Vanilla likes to grow in high humidity where the temperature stays consistently in the 75-80F range and doesn’t drop below 55F during the night. It also likes porous, well draining soil. All these conditions make the Big Island an ideal location to grow vanilla and 20 years ago, the Hawaiian Vanilla Company began to do just that.

Does Hawaii have good vanilla?

Yes, Hawaii has fabulous vanilla.

Where is vanilla grown in Hawaii?

Vanilla is grown on multiple islands in Hawaii.

Big Island: Hawaiian Vanilla Company, The Vanillerie, Konaloha Farm, Huahua Farm

Oahu: Laie Vanilla Company, Kahuku Farms

Kauai: The Vanillerie of Kauai, Lydgate Farms, Neu Mana Hui Farm

What does Hawaiian vanilla taste like?

Hawaiian vanilla has a flavor profile tropical fruit hints hiding behind the strong vanilla flavor.

Is Hawaiian Vanilla Company good for kids?

Hawaiian Vanilla Company farm tour is good for kids of all ages. While each age group will get something different out of it, they will definitely learn something new.

The luncheon tour might not be appreciated by kids, and for the price point, you will need to make the call on whether your child can appreciate unique flavors in their foods.

More Farms You Should Visit on the Big Island: Heavenly Hawaiian Kona Coffee Farm Sacred Grounds Coffee Farm     Kona Sea Salt Farm    Lavaloha Chocolate Farm

Epilogue: Hawaiian Vanilla Company

Visiting the Hawaiian Vanilla Company is one of the more unique farms to visit on the Big Island and definitely worth adding to your itinerary. Whether you just shop for a vanilla themed souvenir or reserve a complete vanilla flavored lunch and tour, you should consider a stop on the farm if you are driving along the Hamakua Coast.

🌺 Big Island Travel Planning Guide 🌺

🚨  Should I buy Hawaii travel insurance?

YES  — I recommend Travel Insurance Master because you can compare multiple options with one click. With plans starting at $5/day per person, why not give yourself piece of mind? Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!

 🚗 Is it safe to rent a car on the Big Island?

YES — It’s totally safe to drive on the Big Island. And unless you plan to chill by the resort pool the entire time, renting a car is pretty much a necessity on the Big Island! Jeep rentals are popular . I recommend Discount Hawaii Car Rental , as they have some of the best prices around.

📞  Will my phone work on the Big Island?

PROBABLY  — Most, if not all, cell providers work on the Big Island. However, be prepared for some dead spots in the more remote parts of the island. For example, I always lose service driving through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park .

🛏️  What’s the best way to book my Big Island accommodations?

For Big Island hotels,  Booking.com is amazing because you can often reserve your room with no money down. If you are looking for an Airbnb condo with a kitchen and more space, don’t forget to check VRBO  for potentially better prices and options.

✈️  What’s the best site to buy Big Island flights?

I recommend looking at Skyscanner for finding cheap flights. Pro Tip : check if flying into Hilo is cheaper than flying into Kona.

🛂  Do I need a passport to visit Hawaii?

NO  — If you are a US citizen, you do not need a passport as Hawaii is part of the United States . If you are from out of the country, the same passport and visa requirements are the same as entering anywhere in the United States from your country.

🧳 What should I pack to the Big Island?

Pack for tropical weather but also prepare for colder than expected nights and early mornings, so a light sweatshirt is recommended. Check out this list of 5 Things Not to Forget to Pack .

Aloha! I'm Tabitha, an ex-travel agent turned travel blogger. I've lived from fire (Big Island Hawaii) to ice (Alaska) to the lukewarm (Washington State). I've traveled Europe, Scotland and England being my favorite, Costa Rica, Cancun, Canada, various US states, and more. No matter if it's a staycation or international vacation, every trip I take there are things to explore and discover! I'm here to take what I learn and help others think outside the box when composing their own travel itineraries.

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Vanilla Experience Luncheon and Farm Tour

Experience an unforgettable culinary journey at our Vanilla Experience Luncheon & Farm Tour. Delight in an exquisite gourmet lunch inspired by vanilla flavors in our Vanilla Kitchen for this two-hour event that will enchant and engage all five senses!

Beginning your adventure by visiting our mill site, you can experience Vanilla Lemonade or Ice Tea or our special combination drink: the "Jimmy Boy". Additionally, our chef will serve up garam-masala shrimps cooked in vanilla butter and served on delicious crostini with our unique vanilla pineapple sauce - for an unforgettable dining experience!

Our main course consists of Vanilla Bourbon-Marinated Chicken Breast served on a soft Vanilla Sweet Bread bun topped with caramelized onion. Select between our mouthwatering sauces; Vanilla Barbecue Sauce or the delicious Vanilla Mango Chutney Aioli to complement this succulent dish. Additionally, enjoy our refreshing salad topped with Vanilla Raspberry Balsamic Dressing, Honey Peppered Pecans, and feta cheese as a refreshing side. Don't forget our special Vanilla Southwest Rub on baked potatoes to complete this delicious experience!

Make the experience complete by indulging in our delectable Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Ice Cream dessert as the perfect complement to our complimentary coffee service. Also visit our Gallery & Gift Shop which is open Monday - Saturday 10am-2pm offering vanilla-inspired treats and souvenirs!

Wearing comfortable shoes is strongly encouraged and we advise bringing along a lightweight windbreaker or sweater for added comfort. In case it rains during November-April rainy seasons, bring an umbrella or rain jacket as well.

Experience vanilla heaven with our Vanilla Experience luncheon and farm tour. Reserve your seat today to step into a realm of culinary pleasure and sensory stimulation!

Price: $89.50

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• Big Island Restaurants
• Big Island See & Do

Hawaiian Vanilla Farm Tour Lunch

• 2 minute read

Vanilla has the reputation for being, well, somewhat bland, but did you know that vanilla is quite a fascinating plant?

Vanilla is actually an orchid that only blooms for one day. If the orchid is to produce a vanilla bean, it must very carefully hand pollenated on that one day of blooming.  I learned these interesting facts while visiting the Hawaiian Vanilla Company for lunch and a tour.

Though learning about vanilla is interesting in itself, the owner Jim Reddekopp weaves a family love story into his presentation about vanilla and how he came to farm it.  Jim and his wife Tracey were living on Oahu with their first two children when they decided that before they had more kids, they wanted to raise their children on a farm. Soon after, they decided to move to Hawaii Island’s verdant Hamakua Coast to start the USA’s first (and I believe only) vanilla farm. Jim and Tracey now have five children that he jokes are on a work-to-eat program.

Jim Reddekopp does not hied his passion for his family and vanilla. The two are clearly intertwined. It was inspirational to hear how the Reddekopps grew their farm dream into a viable small business that currently employees nine people. How inspirational was it? Well, on the drive back to Waikoloa, Andy and I started daydreaming and brainstorming what sort of farm we could start in Hawaii.

We enjoyed a very tasty vanilla-infused, three-course lunch as part of the Hawaiian Vanilla Experience followed by a tour of the farm. Almost every part of the lunch incorporated vanilla in creative and unusual ways. For example, the roasted potatoes were seasoned in a vanilla southwest spice. I certainly learned by tasting that vanilla is not just for desserts.

After lunch, we took a tour of a vanilla farm “field” . There, we looked closer at the type of environment and tender loving care that vanilla farming requires.

The Hawaiian Vanilla Company occupies a lovely old timber building that originally housed a coffee mill in the 1920s. It’s roughly located half-way between Hilo and Kona. We drove there from Waikoloa Beach Resort in about an hour. It’s quite a scenic drive, too. If you’re in this area, you might want to consider also visiting Akaka Falls , Waipio Valley lookout and, if time permits, the beautiful Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden .

Hawaiian Vanilla Company offers other tours and tastings in addition to this lunch tour we enjoyed. Tour reservations are strongly recommended.

Having lunch and farm touring at Hawaiian Vanilla Company was far more than a vanilla experience.

Mahalo to the Hawaiian Vanilla Company for hosting our tour.

Sheila Beal

Sheila Beal is the founder and editor of Go Visit Hawaii. You can connect with Sheila Beal on Twitter , Go Visit Hawaii on Facebook , or Instagram .

This tour was anything but vanilla! Jim is a great entertainer and I had fun learning about vanilla and getting to taste his ono recipes!

You know I’ve got a vanilla plant growing in a pot right outside my window and it is growing so fast and big I am not sure where to put it where it won’t touch the ground and the dog won’t eat it.

Nice post, enjoyed it.

Planning a trip out to the Big Island this summer for a photo safari and this place sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try some of those vanilla dishes. I bet the vanilla ice cream is off of the charts.

Do you still have tours of the Vanilla Farm available. We will be in Kona from May 9 to May 16, 2015. Thanks.

Jerry – we at GoVisitHawaii.com don’t offer the tours. You must book directly with the Hawaiian Vanilla Company. Links to their site are hyperlinked in the above article.

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