Spotlight Lydgate Farm

Hawaiʻi holds a lot of distinctions. It is the only U.S. state surrounded entirely by water, with its own language (ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi), and the only one that is getting bigger (Hello active volcanoes!). It is also the only state that grows cacao and one of only two states that grow coffee plants commercially.

Lydgate Farms is Kauai’s premier cacao farm and chocolate producer, whose founder — Will Lydgate — has family roots from the days of the Hawaiian Kingdom. With inspiration from Old Hawaii, Lydgate is creating a bright future for Hawaiian value-added agriculture, profitable regenerative land management, and high-touch hospitality. Lydgate has earned multiple Top 50 Best in The World designations from the Cacao of Excellence, including its coveted Gold Award, while operating the #1 paid activity on TripAdvisor statewide.

This year, we’re especially excited to feature Lydgate Farms cacao and chocolate activities at the event. These include inspiring talks and conversations with the founder, hands-on cacao sessions and tastings, and a site visit where participants can explore the farm, meet the growers, and taste the magic in person. Whether you’re rolling up your sleeves or savoring the results, it’s a chance to experience the care, craft, and community that make Lydgate so special.

Lydgate Farms is a passionate sponsor of the Common Ground Summit.

Summit Activity

Cacao: Preparing the Seed of Connection

In this hands-on session with Lydgate Farms, we’ll explore the journey of cacao from pod to preparation, grounding in the rhythms of cultivation, care, and craft. As we shell cacao and learn about its transformation into chocolate, we’ll reflect on the labor, land, and relationships embedded in each seed. Together, we’ll consider cacao not just as an ingredient, but as a vessel of story, culture, and connection – linking us to place, people, and the hands that make nourishment possible.

Photos: Courtesy of Lydgate Farms