Discover Hawaii's Best Video for Travel and Living

           

The North Shore town of Waialua was once a bustling sugar mill town but in 1996 the Waialua Sugar Mill stopped production and closed its gates after over a 100 years of operation. In recent years, however, there has been a quiet resurgence of shops, businesses, and local product manufacturing that has helped transform the Old Waialua Sugar Mill into one of Oahu's newest visitor destinations. The mill is also the processing site of Waialua Coffee and Cacao. Free mini tours of the coffee and chocolate mill as well as free Waialua Coffee samples are offered daily at Island X Hawaii. Be sure to taste the Natural Shave Ice made from Waialua Coffee and Waialua Chocolate and other real fruits at Island X Hawaii. Come join us on Saturday, April 7th for a gathering of local art, food, music, community groups and to celebrate the rebirth of the Old Historic Waialua Sugar Mill town.

Event Schedule and Highlights

8:30 a.m.     Waialua Farmers Co-op Market opens featuring Waialua grown fruits and veggies. 

9:30 a.m.     At Island X Hawaii, the Hawaii Coffee Association and Dr. Shawn Steiman of Consulting will present a history of coffee in Hawaii and the emergence of Waialua Coffee. Afterwards Shawn will discuss and demonstrate the idea of coffee strength. Throughout the day, free, behind the scenes Coffee & Cacao Mill Tours will be offered by Derek Lanter from Dole. 

10:30 am and 1:00 p.m.     Historical and Agricultural Tours hosted by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce. We will provide two short narrated bus tours that will visit historic sites around Waialua, highlight the agricultural history of the area and briefly visit several local farms such as a taro farm and Dole's cacao farm. Tours are free, depart at 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. but space is very limited. Call 779-7439 to pre-register.

12: 00 p.m.    At Island X Store, Madre Chocolate’s David Elliot will lead a chocolate making demonstration where attendees can learn how this delectable food is made from bean to bar.

10:00 am – 3:00 pm   The music starts with a performance of Makua's (Coco Leong) Sunset Beach Elementary School Ukulele Class, This will kick off a special day of North Shore Hawaiian music, featuring The Abrigo Ohana, Kalei Gamiao, Halau Hula Makana a ke Aloha and Roshan & Shivani / Clear Sky. For more information about Taste of Waialua, please contact event coordinator Bill Martin at (808) 779-7439 www.tasteofwaialua.com