Tony Takitani and The Chocolate Factory
The Willy Wonka of Hawaii, Hawaiian Host chairman of the board Tony Takitani carries on a family tradition that
By Alice Keesing
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year since 1993 the foundation has granted scholarships to a senior at nearly every high school in the state. To date, the foundation has given out nearly $1 million, and Takitani wants to see that effort continue to grow.
“The more we can do for students, the more satisfying it feels,” he says.
Along with that good work, Takitani and Sakamoto also like to think that they deliver 200 million pieces of happiness to people all around the world every year. That distinctive tiki box can be found in 24 countries from Brunei to China to the Philippines.
Along with the macadamia nuts, Hawaiian Host turns out candies with the tastes and textures of butter-glazed popcorn, caramel, crispy rice, sweet toffee, almonds, Hawaiian honey, Kona coffee ... not to mention the organic and sugar-free offerings.
What’s Takitani’s favorite? “I love all our products,” he says happily. “But, really, I still prefer the original - it’s a great piece of candy.” That original whole-and-a-half that the ladies used to sit around the table dipping in that special blend of melted chocolate way back when on Maui.
To celebrate the 80th anniversary, Hawaiian Host is offering a Wonka-life Golden Ticket contest.
Sixty thousand golden tickets have been placed in various products in Hawaii, each with a number. Enter it at the company’s website to find out if you’re one of 80 finalists to win a trip to Australia for two, and a tour of the chocolate factory with four friends.
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