Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation facts for kids
.jpg)
Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation is a very large company that processes macadamia nuts. It's known for being one of the biggest in the world! This American company was once part of The Hershey Company (from 2004 to 2015). Then, Hawaiian Host, Inc. bought it. The company gets its name from the famous volcano, Mauna Loa. Its main office and factory are located near this volcano, south of Hilo on the island of Hawaiʻi, also known as the Big Island.
The Story of Mauna Loa Nuts
The very first Mauna Loa macadamia plantation was started in 1946. The first nuts grown for sale were picked in 1956. A company called C. Brewer & Co. owned Mauna Loa from 1974 to 2000.
Visiting the Mauna Loa Factory
The Mauna Loa factory has a special place for visitors. It's a popular spot for tourists! You can take a self-guided tour to see how the nuts are processed. You watch from a walkway on the second floor for safety. There's also a big gift shop where you can buy homemade macadamia ice cream. Plus, you can get free samples of all the different flavors of nuts the company sells!
The visitor center is located at One Macadamia Road, near the town of Keaʻau. You can find it at these coordinates: 19°39′24″N 155°0′33″W / 19.65667°N 155.00917°W.
Caring for Our Planet
Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation cares about the environment. They are working to become completely carbon neutral. This means they want to reduce their use of electricity made from things like coal and oil. At their main factory, they have their own special steam generator. This generator uses plant waste to make electricity. This power helps them harvest and package their macadamia nuts. It's a great way to be more eco-friendly!
