Chocolate connoisseurs will converge in Kona this month at the 9th annual Kona Chocolate Festival at the oceanfront Keauhou Beach Resort.

The event, which runs from 6 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 15, will feature around 20 of Hawaii’s top chefs creating innovative chocolate creations, along with champagne, wine and chocolate beer.

Rare, World-Class Award-Winning Chocolate made from pure Hawaiian cacao grown exclusively on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.

Not many people know that chocolate is grown in the Islands. For example, rare, world-class and award-winning chocolate made from pure Hawaiian cacao grows on the North Shore of Oahu at Waialua Estate.

“The purpose and goal of this event is to highlight and showcase Hawaii’s unique regional products, with an emphasis on chocolate,” said Jim Heather, general manager of Keauhou Beach Resort.  “Keauhou Beach Resort is proud to be a part of this event that not only supports culinary education opportunities, but also enriches our guests’ vacation experience by showing the diversified agriculture of Hawaii.”

In addition, there will be live music, a cook-off competition, chocolate body art and a life-size chocolate fondue fountain.

General admission is $35. To order tickets or to get more information about this event, call (808) 987-8722.

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