Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company, Big Island

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company at a Glance

Here’s where you can literally go nuts! The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company is the world’s largest provider of macadamia nuts, supplying several major brands and food chains. The company started in 1946 and made its first harvest in 1956, and recently became a subsidiary of the Hersheys Corporation. Their processing plant and headquarters are located in Hilo, Hawaii, and is one of the biggest inland attractions on the Big Island.

Nature lovers will love the combination of natural and manmade wonders at the plant. The grounds are home to around 800,000 trees, which are regularly maintained and harvested throughout the year. An open tour bus can take you around the farm, where you can look out at miles of sculpted landscape. Sometimes you can catch the workers picking and harvesting.

Inside the plant is a visitors’ gallery, where you can watch the actual nut processing. The tour takes you around different parts of the plant while a guide explains each step in the process. Try to come in midday so you can catch most of the work-the workers tend to be less busy toward the late afternoon.

Also a major draw is the large gift shop, which you will reach at the end of the tour. Here you can buy and sample the famous macadamia nuts, as well as popular varieties like chocolate, cream, and candied nuts. Be sure to try the flavored macadamias-these are too expensive to ship to the mainland, so you can’t eat them anywhere else!

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company in Bullet Points

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company Location

Address: 1 Macadamia Road, Hilo, HI 96720

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company Map (top)

Hilo Weather (top)

Now
82°F
Windchill:
82°F
Mostly Cloudy
Location: Hilo, HI, US
Wind: 8 mph E
Humidity: 65%
Visibility: 0.1 mi
Pressure: 29.95 in falling
Sunrise: 6:24 am
Sunset: 5:43 pm Sat
Hi: 81°F
Low: 67°F
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Hi: 82°F
Low: 68°F
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