Hawaiian Vanilla Co. offers a must-do tour on the Big Island, considered a highlight and one of the most memorable experiences for visitors. The farm sits on a rural hillside overlooking the ocean, providing cooler temperatures. The educational and informative tour, led by a passionate, engaging, and knowledgeable guide with a great sense of humor, covers the vanilla orchid farm. Guests learn about vanilla’s history, biology, cultivation, and cooking uses in plain terms. The highly recommended lunch tour features a delicious, well-presented vanilla-infused meal that guests will be talking about. The menu includes choices like vanilla lemonade, tea, or a mixed beverage. Appetizers such as vanilla garam masala shrimp with vanilla mango chutney lead to main dishes like vanilla bourbon marinated chicken. Sides include exceptional fried potatoes with a vanilla southwest rub. Dessert is vanilla ice cream and coffee. The chef expertly demonstrates how vanilla enhances savory dishes without overpowering them. The short walk to the orchids is not too much, and transportation is available. The experience is unique and wonderful, well worth the cost for out-of-town guests or a couple. It proves educational in ways visitors didn't know they needed. The guide often follows up with personal recipes. Products like vanilla popcorn and vanilla southwest rub are available for purchase. This superb tour is definitely worth taking the time to visit.
The lunch was great and well presented. The short walk was not too much and the tour and talk provided by Zach was very interesting. A perfect tour for your out of town guests or you and your sweetie.
February 2026
The highlight of our Big Island trip! Zak was extremely knowledgeable and led a superb tour. We opted for the vanilla lunch, and were so impressed with the many ways vanilla can be used to spice a dish. Don't forget to grab a bag of vanilla popcorn for the road.
February 2026
Wow! What a wonderful day. We would recommend both the lunch and tour. It was GREAT! Zach loves what he does. He was passionate, engaging and had a great sense of humor. All the food was delicious. Thank you for an amazing time.
Recommended as Best of North Big Island Because: The Hawaiian Vanilla Company offers a refreshing tour and lunch on their farm, all about vanilla.
Ice cream, chocolate-chip cookies, coffee, cakes, shakes-these are the goodies where you expect to find vanilla beans or vanilla flavor. But what about lemonade, BBQ sauce, chutney, cornbread, maple syrup, jelly, or salad dressing? And would you expect to find a vanilla farm (the first and only commercial vanilla operation in the U.S.) in Hawaii? The Big Island continues to surprise me, and today the surprising secret ingredient is?.Vanilla! Don't miss the chance to have a vanilla experience on the Big Island. You can have a vanilla lunch complete with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for dessert, and then take a walking tour of the vanilla farm and learn how the Hawaiian Vanilla Company started raising this crop on the Big Island. Overall, a great way to spend an afternoon. And you won't go hungry! More Information: Hawaiian Vanilla Company Website: www.HawaiianVanilla.com Information on the Vanilla Experience Luncheon (Reservations are required!) Other tours and tastings offered at the farm: Vanilla Tours Hawaiian Vanilla Company Inc. P.O. Box 383 43-2007 Paauilo Mauka Road Paauilo, Hawaii 96776 Phone (808) 776-1771 Fax (808) 776-1661 Toll Free (877) 771-1771
