LONOHANA ESTATE CHOCOLATE

Nourish the land, elevate chocolate, uplift Hawaiʻi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2026 Media Contact: Seneca Klassen · 808‑517‑4475 · press@lonohana.com

Lonohana Estate Chocolate Becomes Hawaiʻi’s Largest Cacao Grower with Historic Waialua Orchard Expansion

Landmark acquisition of Waialua Estate orchard from Dole Food Company moves largest cacao planting in Hawaiʻi to local stewardship, ensures preservation of agricultural land for north shore community, and furthers Lonohana Estate Chocolate’s commitment to using exclusively Hawaiʻi‑grown cacao.

HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI — Lonohana Estate Chocolate today announced the close of the acquisition of Waialua Estate, Hawaiʻi’s largest cacao farm, located on Oʻahu’s north shore. Fifteen years after planting their regenerative Opaeʻula Ridge farm above the town of Haleʻiwa, Lonohana will now additionally oversee the 151‑acre Waialua property including more than 60 acres of mature, producing cacao. Combining these two farms firmly establishes Lonohana as Hawaiʻi’s largest cacao grower.

“This is a critical transition for Hawaiʻi‑grown chocolate, as well as for the town of Waialua,” said Seneca Klassen, Founder and CEO of Lonohana Estate Chocolate. “Our vision from the very beginning was to make a local product with global reputation. We can only achieve that by taking care of the ʻāina first, and for us that means continuing and extending our commitment to running regenerative agroforestry cacao orchards. It’s critical to our mission to make sure that this farmland stays in diversified agriculture, with cacao and chocolate as the economic engine. This is a kuleana we do not take lightly.”

Acquired from Dole Food Company, the orchard occupies land that for generations defined Waialua’s agricultural identity as the home of Waialua Sugar Company. The acquisition more than quadruples Lonohana’s cultivated cacao, building on the company’s established 14‑acre agroforestry farm in Haleʻiwa and deepening a commitment to make world‑class chocolate from Hawaiʻi‑grown cacao.

Grown and Made in Hawaiʻi — Local Supply Chain Maximizes Impact

Founded in 2009 with a desire to elevate the awareness and quality of Hawaiʻi‑grown chocolate, Lonohana has taken the opposite path from most of the industry: owning its source from the ground up, rather than buying on volatile commodity markets and importing cacao from distant global origins.

The Waialua orchard anchors a fully traceable supply chain for both of the company’s brands: its flagship, Lonohana Estate Chocolate, and sister brand, Onomea Chocolate. All of Lonohana’s chocolate is and will continue to be made exclusively from Hawaiʻi‑grown cacao.

“By growing cacao and making chocolate here in Hawaiʻi, we are able to keep all of the value‑add in our community,” said Co‑Founder Lawrence Boone. “This acquisition allows us to expand our environmental restoration efforts, create additional local jobs and produce more high‑quality, locally grown chocolate, all for the greatest benefit to Hawaiʻi’s farming economy.”

Backed by Aligned, Mission‑Driven Partnerships

While Lonohana remains majority family‑owned, the company’s long‑standing commitment to revitalizing Hawaiʻi’s agricultural economy through chocolate has attracted like‑minded impact investors with a commitment to regenerative farming and the preservation of farmland.

“We are honored to have been joined by a close group of partners who share a common set of priorities,” said Klassen. “We always knew this dream was bold and would not happen quickly. Our amazing team on the farm and in town are all working hard to make Hawaiʻi proud, and to leave these lands stronger for future generations.”

Lonohana led the acquisition of the Waialua property with strategically aligned partners George and Gloriana Gund, who have been active in reviving agricultural communities through their environmental conservation and philanthropic investments for over a decade. Acquiring the cacao orchard and partnering with Lonohana Chocolate to lead the property’s revitalization and conversion to regenerative farming furthers the couple’s desire to more directly connect consumers with where their food comes from and how it is grown.

“Gloriana and I have wanted to be involved in Hawaiʻi agriculture and the production of cacao for several years,” said Mr. Gund. “The opportunity to be a part of stewarding this land is an opportunity we feel blessed to have. This project aligns with our vision of a network of regenerative food producers, both in the US and beyond. We are excited to see this land prosper and for the local community to feel a closer connection to it.”

Mrs. Gund, a passionate advocate for regenerative farm systems and how they contribute to community revitalization, adds, “Preserving this land for the community and for Lonohana to continue to have access to the joy of what harvest brings was of great importance to us. This is a reminder that the inherent abundance of nature is also inside all of us.”

About Lonohana Estate Chocolate

Founded in 2009, Lonohana Estate Chocolate is a vertically integrated, tree‑to‑bar chocolate company farming regeneratively grown cacao on the north shore of Oʻahu and crafting fine finished chocolate using only Hawaiʻi‑grown cacao. The company produces chocolate under the Lonohana Estate Chocolate and Onomea Chocolate brands, which are available throughout Hawaiʻi, at its retail locations in Waikīkī and Kakaʻako, and at a growing number of specialty retailers across the United States. Learn more at lonohana.com.