"Phenomenal, full emersion experience carving tikis."
Verified Review
This two-hour workshop offers a rare opportunity to work side-by-side with a 4th-generation Master Carver, direct from Polynesia. Set in the lush farm setting of Aloha Adventure Farms, the experience blends storytelling, craft, and cultural connection. You’ll learn traditional carving techniques using high-quality local wood and walk away with a hand-carved piece that’s both a memory and a legacy—something to pass down from your ‘ohana to the next.
GUEST REQUIREMENTS
For ages 8 and up, group size limited to 5 guests.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Beginner-friendly — you don’t need prior carving experience.
WHAT TO BRING
Comfortable clothes, closed toe shoes, and sun cover.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Full refund or credit with 48 hours notice of cancellation.
WHAT GUESTS ARE SAYING
4.9★ from 400+ reviews on TripAdvisor
Travelers consistently praise the carving experience as a standout cultural activity on the Big Island. Guests describe it as “exceeded our expectations” and highlight the personal attention, relaxed pace, and beautiful forest setting. Many specifically name and rave about Mani, the fourth-generation Tongan master carver, calling him “kind, professional, funny, and very talented!” Reviewers love the hands-on process of creating their own tiki sculptures and appreciate the workshop’s intimate vibe—with just a few people gathered around Mani in a shaded patio overlooking the rainforest.
Spend some time with a highly sought after 4th generation Master Carver direct from Polynesia. Step back into time and experience the beauty and aloha of the islands by carving your own authentic wood carving. Using only top quality wood grown locally on the Big Island. Preserve your piece of Hawaii forever. This token of our Aloha will live on for generations to come from our ‘ohana to yours.
Aloha Adventure Farms is a family-owned cultural experience nestled in Holualoa’s upland rainforest near Kailua‑Kona. They share the living traditions of Polynesian heritage through hands-on activities led by cultural guides from Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji. The highlight: guests learn directly from a fourth-generation Tongan carver, shaping their own wooden tiki and discovering island storytelling through traditional craft.
Aloha Adventure Farms
77-6261 Mamalahoa Highway, Holualoa, HI 96725Customers will receive a full refund or credit with 48 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price.
Weather Policy: Remember our ATV and carving tours will operate rain or shine. The farm can be an exciting place when the rain comes. All cancellations due to weather will be the decision of the Aloha Adventure Farms staff, and are generally caused by thunderstorms or heavy rains. If this happens we will do our best to contact you before and reschedule or provide a voucher for another time. If you are unable to attend another time a full refund will be given. Cancellation/Refund Policy: Please notify us as soon as possible if changes need to be made with your reservation. For cancellations 48 hours before your scheduled tour you will receive a full refund or we will reschedule your visit. Under 48 hours all reservations are considered final and no refund will be given. Please be aware if you need to modify your booking within the 48 hours before your tour you are subject to a rebooking fee of $50 per person. Much preparation is required and expenses are incurred to accommodate each scheduled tour and due to limited space others have likely been turned away for your tour time.
Trip Protection Policy: Purchasing Trip Protection allows guests to cancel or reschedule at any time for any reason up to 12 hours prior to trip departure. Customers will be reimbursed for the full amount of each ticket, less the cost of trip protection and processing fees. Trip protection is not redeemable less than 12 hours before the start of the tour.
FOLIO TRAVELOGUE
Hands-On Tiki Carving on Holualoa Farm
Spend a morning in the company of a true master. This isn’t just a carving class—it’s a cultural exchange. Nestled in the hills above Kona, the experience begins in a shady outdoor carving hale, surrounded by palms and fruit trees, with the scent of fresh wood in the air. Your guide is a 4th-generation Master Carver from Polynesia—calm, focused, and full of quiet wisdom. He begins by explaining the meaning behind traditional Polynesian motifs, how each design carries history, protection, lineage, or identity. Every carving is a story. You’ll soon realize you’re not just making something decorative—you’re making something that matters.
Two hours with wood, stories, and living tradition
The tools are simple. The process is not. With the carver’s guidance, you’ll begin shaping your own tiki figure from locally sourced hardwoods—koa, monkeypod, or milo—each chosen for their cultural and ecological significance. There’s rhythm to it: the tap of chisel on grain, the moment when a curve appears where there was only a block. You’ll learn how the wood behaves, how to coax out form and expression, how imperfections are part of the beauty.
There’s no rush here. Just time, intention, and a kind of deep presence that modern life rarely offers. As you carve, conversations open up—about heritage, craft, connection, and the role these objects have played for generations across the Pacific. You’ll leave with a finished piece, yes—but more importantly, you’ll carry a lasting memory. Of a morning spent honoring a tradition. Of something made with your hands and heart. Of aloha, passed from one generation to the next.
