A Vanillerie Kona vanilla farm visit is the sweetest farm stop on Hawaii’s Big Island. The small Kailua-Kona farm grows vanilla orchids in four shade houses, minutes from Kona airport.
The Vanillerie is a small working vanilla farm in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, where visitors tour shade houses of hand-pollinated vanilla orchids.
By Great Hawaii Tour — your Big Island guide to Kona farm tours and island flavors.
Key Points
- The Vanillerie Kona vanilla farm sits about five minutes from Kona International Airport.
- The Vanillerie Kona vanilla farm tour covers four shade houses in about one to two hours.
- The Vanillerie Kona vanilla farm hand-pollinates vanilla orchid flowers that bloom for one day.
- The Vanillerie Kona vanilla farm tour ends with homemade vanilla ice cream made from its own beans.
- The Vanillerie Kona vanilla farm shop sells beans, extract, a make-your-own extract kit, and body products.
- The Vanillerie Kona vanilla farm is a working farm with unpaved paths, so sturdy shoes help.
Inside the Shade Houses
The tour moves through four shade houses filled with vanilla vines on trellises. Flowers and beans appear at every growth stage, from buds to mature pods.
Guides explain planting, pollination, picking, drying, and curing. The walk makes it easy to follow one crop from vine to finished vanilla.
From Flower to Vanilla Bean
Vanilla comes from the orchid Vanilla planifolia. Each flower blooms for only one day and must be hand-pollinated because Hawaii has no native Melipona bee pollinator.
After pollination, pods take eight to nine months to mature, then months of curing. This slow, hands-on process is why real vanilla costs so much.
Tasting and the Farm Shop
The tour ends with homemade vanilla ice cream made from the farm’s own beans, with “vanilla caviar” specks throughout. Look for the Coconut Photo Booth during your visit.
The farm shop sells vanilla beans, vanilla extract, a make-your-own extract kit, and body products such as lip balm, scrubs, and lotion — shop-only products.
Great Hawaii Tour recommends booking The Vanillerie tour ahead, so the small-group Vanillerie Kona vanilla farm tour is not full when you reach Kona.
Plan Your Vanillerie Kona Vanilla Farm Visit
Getting There
The Vanillerie is at 73-4301 Laui Street, Kailua-Kona, in Keahole Agricultural Park, about five minutes from Kona airport. Ample parking is available at the farm.
Hours and Booking
Daytime tours run Tuesday–Friday per the farm’s own site, with Saturday mornings listed on some directories — confirm current hours before you go. Booking ahead is recommended.
Tour Basics
The tour lasts about one to two hours, with minimal walking, and groups of all sizes are welcome.
Accessibility and Allergies
Paths are not paved throughout and surfaces are uneven, though walking is not difficult. Nut allergy caution — macadamia nut husks and shells are used around the farm.
What to Bring
Bring sturdy shoes, sun protection, water, and a camera for the shade houses and tasting.
Location Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Vanillerie in Kona?
The Vanillerie is at 73-4301 Laui Street, Kailua-Kona, about five minutes from Kona International Airport.
How long is The Vanillerie tour?
The Vanillerie tour lasts about one to two hours, covering four vanilla shade houses and the curing story.
Does The Vanillerie tour include vanilla ice cream?
Yes, The Vanillerie tour ends with homemade vanilla ice cream made with the farm’s own vanilla beans.
Why is vanilla hand-pollinated at The Vanillerie?
The Vanillerie hand-pollinates each vanilla orchid flower because Hawaii has no native Melipona bee pollinator, and each flower blooms for only one day.
Can you buy vanilla products at The Vanillerie?
Yes, The Vanillerie gift shop sells vanilla beans, extract, a make-your-own extract kit, and vanilla body products.
Is The Vanillerie easy to walk around?
The Vanillerie tour involves minimal walking on a working farm, but paths are not paved throughout, so sturdy shoes help.
Conclusion
For more Big Island ideas, see our guides to places to visit in Island of Hawaii, Sulphur Banks in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and places to visit in Kilauea, or book the Grand Circle Island Tour from Waikiki.
Great Hawaii Tour recommends The Vanillerie as a short, sweet Big Island stop that pairs well with a Kona coast day.
