This was a very leisurely day.  Mary Ellen and I met Victoria and Linda C. for breakfast.  I am not sure what the rest of the group did but I spent the morning trying to catch up on this blog.  

For lunch, Mary Ellen and I went to the little gift shop.  She found a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (of all things!) and string cheese.  I joined her on the string cheese but found a vegetable cup with dressing.  We took our purchases and sat in chairs facing the ocean for a beautiful view to relax and have lunch. 

For the afternoon, we met up with the rest of the group to head out for the Puna Chocolate Farm Tour.  It was up a narrow road with lots of twists and turns and potholes.  As we drove up the mountain, it became very cloudy.  We parked under some trees in front of a building that looked like a shack.  There was a young lady who came over and greeted us as we climbed out of the van.  Her name was Amanda and she was our guide.  There were several other people milling around waiting for the tour to begin.  Amanda offered us bug spray and umbrellas-both of which came in handy.​

Amanda began by telling us about the first thing which was the morinda citrifolia tree that produces a very stinky fruit. Noni Juice is extracted from this fruit. The noni juice is medicinal in the respect that it helps people with fibromyalgia. Amanda cut one of the fruits  open to allow us to smell. It smelt like bad blue cheese.  

We looked at a  milkweed plant with caterpillars all over it. The milkweed plants is beneficial because it attracts insects that prey on pests like aphids, leafhoppers, thrips and even stink bugs. We saw several caterpillars which will become Monarch butterflies.

We walked up the road a little further; Amanda began point out many of the other plants that are grown on the farm aside from the cacao plant. There farm was very diversified in that it did not grow just one crop.  One tree Amanda talked about was the macadamia nut tree.  It was quite interesting to learn that macadamia nuts are harvested when they fall off of the tree. They are never picked.  Once they have fallen and are harvested. They are set them out to dry for at least a week before you can crack them open.   Amanda had a macadamia nut cracker, and some dried nuts for us to crack open and eat.  As we were standing there listening to the directions it started to really rain.  Luckily, we were under the canopy of the trees.  (Note: the umbrellas above came in handy!)

​We walked over to the area where the cacao trees were growing.  Amanda pointed out how the cacao pod grows right out of the trunk of the tree.  We all looked around to see if we could find any more. With none being found, Amanda took us to an area she had set up before hand.  She took a large rock and cracked the cacao pod against it.  Insider were seeds covered in a slimy fruit.  She passed these out for everyone to try.  The fruit was sweet but the cacao bean in the center was bitter. At this point it began to rain harder so I had to put my camera away. (Thanks to the group for the rest of these pictures.)

At the tasting table we tried several different types of chocolate ranging from 50% cacao to 90% cacao and a milk chocolate.  They were all very good and very different.  Throughout the tour, Amanda spoke often about maintaining ethical standards and responsibly resourcing when growing, processing, and making the product. 

The tour ended with a stop in the gift shop. 

 After leaving the Puna Chocolate Farm, we went in search of an ABC store for souvaneiers. are The ABC stores are a mixture of liquor store, souvenir shop, and fast food mart.   I had spent so much money at the ABC stores through out the Islands that I could partake of their promotion of a free gift.   We checked out this shopping district and headed to Papa Kona Restaurant and Bar for dinner. Thanks to Kathleen and Linda H for choosing a great dinner spot with a beautiful ocean view. 

We headed back to the resort for a relaxing evening.  Linda C., Mary Ellen and I went and picked up drinks and headed to the Manta Ray viewing area. We didn’t see as many Manta Rays as last night--only one who didn’t stay as long--but we got pictures.

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