Island Treasures: Kailua Candy Company
The Kailua Candy Company has been in business since 1977. This hometown staple is a favorite for those with a sweet tooth, kama‘āina (locals) and malihini (visitors) to Hawai‘i alike.
Their candy has been described as “delicious,” their establishment has “great service,” and they have the “best chocolate turtles ever.”
A review on TripAdvisor.com from Charlotte, North Carolina says, “The turtles and Kona swirls are so delectable that I ended up shipping 17 boxes home.”
Cathy Barrett, president of Kailua Candy Company, says they only use quality products for their candies and source many ingredients locally.
They’re known for the two candies mentioned above, properly referred to as the “Macadamia Nut Honus” and “Kona Coffee Swirls.”
The Kona Coffee Swirls are made with white chocolate, blended with dark chocolate, mixed with very finely ground 100 percent pure Kona Coffee. This delectable concoction used to be served on the Captain Bean’s Dinner Cruise every night in Kona for more than 20 years.
Cathy is the second-generation owner of this unique sugar-stop after taking the business over from her parents. They opened the store after moving to the island and felt inspired to make a living doing something they enjoyed.
“My dad retired at age 50 and decided he had too much energy and not enough money to be retired,” she jokes. “And in his opinion, at the time, there was no quality candy on the island.”
So her dad and mom, Jack and Ginney Smoot, decided to get into the treat-making trade. They started going to chocolate tastings and looking for delicious ingredients to use in their goods. “After getting help from a candy expert on the mainland, they opened the first Kailua Candy Company,” Cathy says.
“When we started, we were located in the old Jug and Jigger liquor store storage room across from the Kailua-Kona pier,” she recalls.
Shortly after opening, Cathy joined her parents to help run the business.
They eventually moved locations to the Old Industrial Area and later moved again to their current location in the Kaloko Industrial Park on the corner of Kamanu and Kauholo Streets.
“Both the store and Kailua-Kona have changed a lot over the years,” Cathy says. “It’s been a great experience.”
What’s been her favorite experience of all?
“Being able to live in Kona full-time and not having to get back on that airplane and crying back to California.”
Kailua Candy Company
73-5612 Kauhola St # 1, Kailua-Kona
Mon–Sat; 9am–5pm
808.329.2522
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