One of Honolulu's sweetest long-time traditions is coming off the line for good. Menehune Mac, Hawaii's oldest maker of hand-scooped macadamia-chocolate treats, has produced the final run of its signature chocolates and is preparing to wind that product line down. Owner Jimmy Chan plans to sell the remaining boxes at the brand's Kalihi storefront and is hoping the stash will hold out through Mother's Day, as the company pivots its Kalihi facility toward expanding chip production and tackles ongoing labor challenges.
Final batch and timeline
According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the factory has already turned out its last batch of hand-scooped chocolates. Chan told the paper the goal is to stretch existing inventory through Mother's Day, then let the line sunset once the last boxes are gone. The Star-Advertiser reports that persistent labor shortages made the intricate, time-heavy chocolate process increasingly difficult to sustain and that management plans to clear out the chocolate production area in order to grow Hawaiian Chip Company operations at the same Kalihi site.
Hawaiian Chip Company consolidates the brands
Hawaiian Chip Company, which acquired the rights to the Menehune Mac brand in 2021, announced the deal in a company news post and has since folded Menehune Mac into its Kalihi-based operation. That move brought Menehune Mac products under the chip maker's retail umbrella and into its production plans, tightening the two brands into a single hub.
A local institution since 1939
As listed in the Hawaii Made directory, Menehune Mac traces its roots back to 1939 and is recognized as the state's oldest handmade chocolate factory. For decades, the company has been known for its focus on handcrafting macadamia chocolates, a defining feature that helped carve out its reputation with locals and visitors alike.
Tourism slump and labor crunch
The Star-Advertiser reports that Menehune Mac lost roughly 80% of its business when the pandemic nearly cut off Japanese visitors, a blow that left the boutique, labor-intensive chocolate line difficult to justify. Chan told the paper that shifting some taro-chip workers into chocolate production strained both operations and helped push leadership toward clearing the chocolate operation entirely so the company could concentrate on products that are easier to scale.
For customers who are not ready to say goodbye, the remaining hand-scooped chocolates are available at the Kalihi storefront while supplies last, and Hawaiian Chip Company lists current product availability and storefront hours online. Once those last boxes sell, it will mark the end of a hand-made era for one of the islands' best-known chocolate makers as it reallocates valuable space to its growing chip business.
