The visitor center for the well-known macadamia brand sits at the end of Macadamia Road outside Keaʻau. You can sample the nuts for free, buy single-serve scoops of dairy-free macadamia ice cream, shop products from more than 25 Hawaiʻi brands, and take a self-guided nature walk past macadamia trees.
Why we love it
An easy stop on the drive between Hilo and Volcano, with free samples and a short garden walk to stretch your legs.
What to expect
Look for the Mauna Loa logo beside the Hawaiʻi Belt Road, then follow Macadamia Road to the visitor center, where the brand has worked with macadamias for more than 55 years. The store is the hub. Free samples of the classic nuts sit out for tasting, and single-serve scoops of dairy-free macadamia ice cream come in several flavors. Shelves carry Hawaiian Host and Mana Up Hawaiʻi products, from coffee to clothing to skincare, plus merchandise sold only here. Outside, a self-guided nature walk passes more than 25 plant and animal species, including macadamia trees. It’s set up as a store-and-stroll stop, not a factory tour.
Know before you go
- Hours
- The store is open Monday through Saturday, 9am to 4pm, and closed Sundays. The phone line, 808-966-8618, keeps the same hours.
- Getting there
- The address is 16-701 Macadamia Road, Keaʻau. Watch for the logo sign on the Hawaiʻi Belt Road (Highway 11) and turn down Macadamia Road.
- What to try
- After the free samples, buy a scoop of the dairy-free macadamia ice cream. Ask about the store-exclusive items, which are sold only while supplies last.
- Nature walk
- The self-guided walk lets you see macadamia trees up close, and it’s a good leg-stretch on the drive between Hilo and Volcano.
- Solar farm
- In 2022 the plant added 1.2 MW of solar panels and a 500 kW battery system so it can run on renewable energy.
Illustrative photo — not taken at Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Visitor Center.
Photo: Oleg Chursin via Unsplash
