Oahu Commercial Photographer Dave Miyamoto, "Tour de Chocolate" at Menehune Mac Candy Factory
It had always been one of my childhood dreams to one day work in a chocolate factory...Well, like the old saying goes, "be careful what you wish for" folks, because :Dave and I lucked out in doing exactly that...!
Thanks to the wonderful and incredibly friendly crew at Menehune Mac candies with Susan & Jana at the helm of this family run business, we were able to go behind the scenes, and beyond their showcase store area, put on our "Lucy & Ethel" candy making hats (a throwback to I LOVE LUCY show...YOU remember the episode friends, right..?), and get down and chocolate-y with the menehunes themselves: Judy, Liza, Mila, Vicenta, Steven, Lori, and Luvi.
A deliciously sweet landmark in Oahu, the candy factory itself has been operating in Honolulu since 1939,and is the oldest manufacturer of chocolate covered macadamia nut candies in Hawaii.
Their featured products include their famous chocolate covered macadamia nuts. They use only Hawaii-grown macadamia nuts and all of their chocolate candies are carefully handmade and hand-poured one-by-one (NOT conveyor belt), which was the most impressive thing that we learned...!
Most of the menehune have been with Menehune Mac an average of 20 years, with Judy being the most experienced candy maker on the line with 37 years of chocolate making expertise in the art of candy design and production.
On this beautiful early bird morning, :Dave captured a few images of our candy extravaganza (yep...pictured is the box of candy that :Dave made himself !), as I walked the factory and chatted with these treasured sweet ladies, and our solo male chocolatiere ( Steve)!
Mahalo once again to Susan and Jana for all of their aloha and reminding us why we love chocolate so much. Next time you're in town (you locals), or visiting our beautiful island of Oahu, stop by and visit Honolulu's chocolate gem, MENEHUNE MAC candy factory and store, on Waiakamilo Road, in Kalihi.
Try their one of kind chocolate flavors: Strawberry Creme Mac Nut, Green Tea Matcha Crunch, Dark Chocolate Arare, and Orange Creme Mac Nut, along with their signature Milk and Dark Chocolate mac nut candies, teas, and cookie flavors.
To see their other products, be sure to visit their present website (soon to be under "re-construction"), but still accessible at www.menehunemac.com
Our :DM&C crew will be working closely with Menehune Mac this year providing photography for them, in their quest to re-showcase their incredibly timeless, and ono-licious delights. Stay tuned for more images and updates to come in 2011..!
Addicted to Chocolate Macs...!
Michelle & :Dave