Kailua Candy Company - Candy, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Corner of Kamanu Street & Kauholo Street, Kailua Kona, HI 96745
(800) 622-2461
http://kailua-candy.com

Last Visited: October 2012

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $ to $$$

While this isn't a cafe or restaurant, Jay recommended the Kailua Candy Company for handmade chocolates and cheesecake so it was easy to make it my first stop upon arriving to Kona. 

When we entered the store, we were a bit surprised to see that the setup was like a general store - there was a mail center (which explains why they can so easily ship their goods), tall shelves with somewhat random Asian items, a freezer full of cheesecake and some ice cream, and the back window that gives you a view of their kitchen.

Kathy came up to us and immediately began to offer us samples of the honus and swirls and of course, it worked - we were munching away as she sweetly described her products and how they are homemade. 

- Macadamia Nut Honus (Turtles) - All of the chocolates and candies are available for purchase by the pound or boxed.  The turtles are available in both dark or milk chocolate. While the macadamia nuts aren't super fancy, they still make the turtle taste really good - the caramel, chocolate, and macadamia nuts are a great combination - how could you go wrong?  Good. 

- Kona Coffee Swirls - Kathy describes these swirls as melting away in your mouth with a rich flavor and aftertaste of Kona coffee and great for after dinner, or breakfast.  I could definitely taste the coffee at the end even after it had melted away.  For me, these are better at the store than once at home.  I would choose the turtles over these because the milk solids appear very quickly, a testimony to their freshness, and since they're like half-domes, they easily fused together because they are packed stacked.  Okay.

- Shortbread - A bag of a dozen shortbread squares, some plain, some dipped in white chocolate, some in milk chocolate, and some in dark chocolate are good and super buttery, but not as crispy as some of their competition.  I would skip the shortbread unless it's your only option.  $4.50

- Cheesecake - Oh My Goodness - There are a number of options for cheesecake flavors available for purchase by the slice or whole.  These slices are marketed as good for two people.  I personally think they're closer to one and a half servings, but very good nonetheless.  Kathy says that they're not super sweet.  I found the chocolate covering to still be fairly sweet, but the tropical flavors added to the cheesecake are a nice balance.  The chocolate cookie crust is pretty thick, but holds up well.  If you want to enjoy your cheesecake right in the store, there are a couple of tables and chairs, and Kathy will put it in the microwave to soften it up for you. ~$4/slice

My favorite item was the honus, but be aware that prices are premium to match the handmade product.  Cheesecake was a close second in my book. 

Kathy is great at selling her product, but you may also notice that she has a sales voice and a regular voice. Either way, you'll find her very hospitable.  Look at the bottom of one of the shelves to find reduced prices for imperfect candies and chocolates.  These are typically at least 20% off and a great deal for candies and chocolates you plan to purchase for yourself.