Practical shopping tours on Hawaii’s Big Island focus on local agriculture and artisanal production. These down-to-earth experiences take you straight to family operations where you’ll learn exactly how Hawaiian specialties are made. Standout tours include visits to coastal salt farms, where traditional harvesting methods continue, and active bee farms producing some of the island’s finest honey.
We especially appreciate the hands-on nature of these tours – you’ll not only watch the production process but often get to participate. The salt farm tours are particularly fascinating, showing how sea salt is carefully cultivated using age-old techniques.
Let’s explore the most worthwhile shopping tours across the Big Island.
Key Points
- The Hawaiian Salt Farm Tour offers a guided tour of the only salt farm in the Hawaiian Islands, with complimentary snacks and salt tasting.
- The Small-Group Big Island Tour includes visits to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and a Kona coffee farm, with a full-day itinerary and personalized experience.
- The Award Winning Farm Tour focuses on coffee, chocolate, and artisanal products, with a guided walking tour and a small-group experience.
- The Honey Farm and Beekeeping Tour provides an engaging educational experience about bees and honey production, with opportunities to meet beekeepers and taste raw organic Hawaiian honey.
- The Sunset Kona Salt Farm Tour offers a highly-rated experience with a knowledgeable farm manager, salt tasting, and stunning sunset views.
Hawaiian Salt Farm Tour Kona
One of the unique experiences visitors can enjoy on the Big Island is the Hawaiian Salt Farm Tour in Kona.
The tour offers a 97% traveler recommendation and a Badge of Excellence, making it a must-do activity. Guests will be guided through the salt-making process at the only salt farm in the Hawaiian Islands, located on an oceanfront site.
They’ll sample different varieties of hand-harvested Hawaiian salts and enjoy complimentary snacks during the tasting. The tour lasts up to 2 hours and can accommodate a maximum of 20 travelers.
With free cancellation and a lowest price guarantee, this tour provides an engaging and informative look into the island’s salt-making heritage.
Read our full review: Hawaiian Salt Farm Tour Kona Review
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Small-Group Big Island Tour: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Kona Coffee Farm
Exploring the diverse natural wonders and cultural experiences of the Big Island, this small-group tour takes visitors on a comprehensive journey through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and a renowned Kona coffee farm.
The tour is limited to just 14 people, ensuring a personalized experience as you hike through a lava tube, visit a black-sand beach, and taste freshly brewed Kona coffee.
The full-day itinerary includes a picnic lunch, dinner, and snacks, while an air-conditioned vehicle offers hotel pickup and drop-off.
Though not wheelchair accessible, the tour welcomes travelers aged 6 and up, with optional short hikes and vegetarian meal options available.
Read our full review: Small-Group Big Island Tour: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Kona Coffee Farm Review
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Award Winning Farm Tour: Coffee, Chocolate, & Unique Gifts Await!
This award-winning farm tour in the Big Island of Hawaii invites visitors to enjoy the world of coffee, chocolate, and unique artisanal products.
With a 99% recommendation rate from 356 travelers, the guided walking tour offers a personalized small-group experience, showcasing the plantation’s coffee and chocolate making processes. Guests can savor the freshly brewed coffee and chocolate, as well as explore the soap-making demonstrations.
The tour is wheelchair-accessible and caters to various needs. However, it’s not recommended for children under 12.
Priced from $40 per person, this tour provides a unique and informative experience highlighting the island’s sustainable farming practices.
Read our full review: Award Winning Farm Tour: Coffee, Chocolate, & Unique Gifts Await! Review
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Experience Our Honey Farm And Beekeeping Tour
After exploring the award-winning coffee and chocolate farm, visitors to the Big Island can now experience the island’s thriving honey production at a local honey farm.
This guided behind-the-scenes tour offers a unique opportunity to meet beekeepers, learn about the honey-making process, and sample raw organic Hawaiian honeys. The tour is limited to 18 guests, ensuring a personalized experience.
Visitors can expect informative and entertaining presentations, delicious honey tastings, and insights into the life of bees. The tour is accessible to all, with wheelchair and stroller access, and service animals allowed.
It’s an engaging and educational experience not to be missed on the Big Island.
Read our full review: Experience Our Honey Farm And Beekeeping Tour Review
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Kona Tour: Coffee Plantation, Kealakekua Bay, Kaloko-Honokohau Park, and Bee Farm
Visitors on the Kona Tour can look forward to an immersive experience that combines the region’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and local flavors.
The full-day tour takes guests to historical sites like Kaloko-Honokohau National Park and Kealakekua Bay, where they’ll learn about Hawaiian history and spot marine life.
At the Big Island Bees farm, they’ll sample organic honey and dive into the world of beekeeping.
The tour also includes a visit to a Kona coffee plantation, where participants can explore the orchards, learn about coffee production, and enjoy a Kona coffee-infused lunch.
With a maximum of 12 travelers, the tour provides a personalized and enriching experience.
Read our full review: Kona Tour: Coffee Plantation, Kealakekua Bay, Kaloko-Honokohau Park, and Bee Farm Review
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Sunset Kona Salt Farm Tour
On the scenic Big Island of Hawaii, travelers can experience the centuries-old tradition of Hawaiian salt-making on the Sunset Kona Salt Farm Tour.
This highly-rated tour takes visitors to a beloved salt farm, where they’ll learn about the process from the knowledgeable farm manager. Guests can enjoy a salt tasting, exploring pure and flavored salts harvested on-site, while taking in the stunning sunset views from the oceanfront grounds or covered deck.
With a maximum group size of 20, it’s an intimate and educational experience. Though not wheelchair accessible, the tour is suitable for most travelers.
While some have noted difficulty hearing the guides, the overall feedback is overwhelmingly positive, earning the tour a 4.9-star rating.
Read our full review: Sunset Kona Salt Farm Tour Review
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Farm-to-Table Chefs Dinner at Kulaniapia Falls
Exploring the lush 42-acre property of Kulaniapia Falls, guests can indulge in a captivating Farm-to-Table Chefs Dinner alongside the private waterfall.
This exclusive experience, limited to just 12 travelers, features a 4-course meal showcasing local and global culinary delights. Guests can bring their own wine or purchase on-site.
While the scenic views and waterfall lighting at night receive high praise, the dinner’s timing is crucial, as late arrivals aren’t seated.
With excellent food quality and the chef’s dedication to excellence, this intimate dining experience offers a unique opportunity to connect with Hawaii’s vibrant culinary scene.
Read our full review: Farm-to-Table Chefs Dinner at Kulaniapia Falls Review
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Sum Up
The Big Island of Hawaii offers a wealth of shopping and farm tour experiences. From exploring Kona’s renowned coffee and chocolate farms to touring honey apiaries and salt farms, visitors can enjoy the island’s rich agricultural heritage. These diverse tours provide opportunities to discover locally-sourced products and connect with Hawaii’s vibrant culinary culture. Whether seeking unique gifts or a behind-the-scenes look at island life, the Big Island delivers an array of captivating shopping and agricultural experiences.