Best Local Hot Cocoa to Keep Keiki Cozy
A holiday must-have, hot chocolate takes on many fun forms at these spots across O‘ahu.
With tropical temperatures all year round, kama‘āina must take their seasonal cues from someplace else. Here we get into the holiday spirit by listening to “Mele Kalikimaka,” taking photos with Shaka Santa, and enjoying our first hot cocoa of the season. We’ve rounded up the ultimate list of unique treats to make your family celebrations extra sweet. Plus, you can whip-up our easy Frozen Hot Chocolate recipe right at home!
Clockwise from top left: ChadLou’s Coffee Roasters, Sweet Creams Hawai‘i, Holey Grail Donuts, Choco le‘a, Cocoa Melts
ChadLou’s Coffee Roasters
This traditional hot chocolate is a Kailua collab crafted with Mānoa Chocolate, located just down the street, and can be customized with variety of milks—whole, nonfat, breve, almond or oat. And, we love the funky charm of this local coffee shop boasting plenty of outdoor seating, ideal for worry-free spills.
45 Ho‘olai Street, Kailua, chadlouscoffeeroasters.com, @chadlouscoffee
SEE ALSO: More Holidays 2022 Stories
Choco le‘a
Skip the powdered packet and opt for the freshly-made hot cocoa to-go from this gourmet chocolate shop. At home, you’ll just add hot milk and enjoy! Or stock up on these cute bundles to give out as teacher gifts. Hurry: supplies are limited and won’t be around for long!
2909 Lowrey Avenue, Mānoa, chocolea.com, @chocoleahawaii
Cocoa Melts
For an interactive explosion of marshmallows, pick up the cute-as-can-be Hot Cocoa Bombs in flavors like gingerbread, peppermint and even cookie butter. The hunt to find them will be worth it, so stop by their pop-ups at Central Pacific Bank Downtown (Dec. 14), Anthropologie Ala Moana (Dec. 17) or Aloha Home Market Kailua (Dec. 18).
Holey Grail Donuts
Iced is nice! Cool down with the Chocolate Milk at this trendy taro donut joint. Parents love the health slant to this kid-friendly drink made with Mānoa Chocolate cacao, house-made coconut and cashew milks, maple syrup and sea salt. Heads-up: it will be hard to leave without a donut to pair with it!
1001 Queen Street, Kaka‘ako, holeygraildonuts.com, @holeygraildonuts
Sweet Creams Hawai‘i
Think out-of-the-box with Frozen Hot Cocoa Ice Cream Rolls! Keiki will love watching as this unique treat is created in front of them with a mash-up of hot chocolate and s’mores flavors. But, it’s the too-cute chocolate Pocky “skewer” that really gets us!
1430 Kona Street, Ala Moana, sweetcreamhawaii.com, @sweetcreams808
