HONOLULU, HI, January 12, 2023 – Combining luxury craftsmanship, innovation and sense of place, KOHO is Hawaiian Host Group’s premier line of Island-inspired artisanal chocolates. After a successful year-long pop-up residency at Ala Moana Center, KOHO opened its first permanent boutique today at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort with a traditional Hawaiian blessing.
KOHO’s artisanal chocolate line features visually stunning bon bons infused with rich Island-inspired flavors – from mauka to makai, or macadamia orchard to the ocean. KOHO is about experiencing a flavorful journey through an enticing suite of tropical flavors. Each piece has its own story to tell, with a bit of hope and a spirit of adventure.
“Koho is the Hawaiian word for ‘choose,’ which reflects our vision from the beginning to be intentional. The flavors and ingredients, along with the partners we’ve chosen for this brand as well as our boutique, have been carefully selected as our expression of these Islands we call home,” says Theresa Tuxhorn, Managing Director of KOHO. “Koho also translates into ‘tip of the paddle,’ which honors the long-standing innovative spirit of Hawaiian Host Group’s past and present.”
The new boutique on the ground floor of the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort faces Kalakaua Ave., and like its pop-up location, features exquisitely thoughtful details highlighting the natural elements of the Islands, but in a much larger and grander space.
“We are thrilled to find a permanent home in Waikiki,” expresses Tuxhorn. “Our new boutique will offer customers a chance to step away from the busyness of Waikiki into a quiet sanctuary as they discover and shop our luxury chocolates that celebrate the uniqueness of Hawaiʻi – from our flavor profiles to the overall tranquil experience of our boutique. We want people to feel like they’re melting into the landscape.” Let KOHO capture your imagination and senses with its exquisite line of bon bon flavors: Macadamia Praline, Lilikoʻi Caramel, Hawaiian Sea Salt Caramel, Kona Coffee Caramel, Coconut Caramel, Macadamia Blossom Honey Caramel, Guava Caramel, and Mango Ginger Caramel.
A new product makes its debut at the boutique – Chocolate Covered Macadamias made with 100% Hawaiian cacao and 100% Hawaiian macadamias. These artisan morsels are available in both milk chocolate (containing 38% Hawaiian cacao) and dark chocolate (containing 55% Hawaiian cacao), and are made using a traditional panning method to create a rich chocolate shell over the macadamias.
The brand’s full line of premium chocolate bars called ‘KOHO Tablets’ are crafted from locally-sourced Hawaiian cacao grown on the North Shore of Oʻahu and are also available at the new boutique. Flavors include the 38% Hawaiian Milk Chocolate, 55% Hawaiian Dark Chocolate, Hawaiian Macadamia & Sea Salt Milk Chocolate, Hawaiian Macadamia & Sea Salt Dark Chocolate, and Kona Coffee Dark Chocolate.
This one-of-a-kind retail space features a sleek customization bar for patrons to create their own personalized boxes of beautifully hand-painted KOHO bon bons. The Waikiki location will serve as the flagship boutique, with plans for future locations in key metropolitan areas around the world.
The blessing, led by Kahu Blaine Kia, was a great way for the KOHO team to connect with their partners at the Outrigger Hospitality Group as well as influencers and guests from the media. Following the ceremony, the new store was abuzz as guests sampled KOHO’s latest flavors over breakfast pastries and coffee, and left with a bag of delicious goodies.
The KOHO team looks forward to welcoming you into the new store soon to explore and enjoy its latest products.
For more information about KOHO and its products, visit kohochocolates.com.
About KOHO
KOHO, the latest brand from the Hawaiian Host Group portfolio, is a true departure from its sister brands, Hawaiian Host and Mauna Loa. KOHO is the new premier line of Island-inspired artisanal chocolates. Hailing from Hawai‘i, the artfully crafted line features visually enticing bon bons infused with exotic flavors, and draws inspiration from the Islands themselves, from ocean to macadamia orchard. KOHO invites you to take your own experiential flavor journey to paradise with its exotic assortment of fine chocolates. Visit KOHO’s first permanent boutique at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, Ground Floor or visit kohochocolates.com.
About Hawaiian Host Group
Hawaiian Host Group is a leading Hawai‘i-based consumer goods company with a portfolio of brands that includes Hawaiian Host, Mauna Loa, and KOHO. It produces +40 unique products, consumed in over 23 countries, that range from flavored macadamia nuts to artisanal chocolates, and even plant-based ice cream. The dedicated team of about 350 Hosts of Hawai‘i is spread across its headquarters in Honolulu and offices in Hilo, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. Both of its manufacturing plants are based on O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island. For more information on how Hawaiian Host Group and its brands share the Spirit of Hawai‘i with the world, visit hawaiianhostgroup.com.
Photography:
Niko del Papa
For media requests regarding the KOHO store blessing/opening, please contact:
Hannah Hyun
hannah@goodswellhi.com
818.919.5112
Hawaiian Host Group Contact:
Stijn Spaas
Director of Corporate Brand Strategy
sspaas@hawaiianhostgroup.com
