Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. where cacao is grown. The tropical climate and bright sunshine allows the finicky cacao plants to thrive. To date, most of the cacao grown in Hawaii has been at one farm on the Big Island. A smaller farm on Maui -- Ono Farms -- has grown some, as well. Now the agriculture giant Dole Foods has released its own Hawaii-grown chocolate made from cacao pods picked from trees on a former sugar plantation on Oahu's North Shore. I haven't tried one yet but with 70% dark chocolate these bars are definitely not for chocolate lightweights.

Dole Plantation Waialua Chocolates

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—Alex, 12/21/06