Valley Isle Chocolate is a young bean-to-bar chocolate maker rooted in the lush landscapes of Maui. Founded in 2021 by Samuel Schwartzkopf, Susan Schwartzkopf, and Sam Phillips, the company began in the most humble way possible—small experimental batches made in a home kitchen, driven by curiosity, friendship, and a shared love of working with plants and food.
After years of living and working apart, the three founders each found their way to Maui, drawn by the island's natural beauty and the chance to build something meaningful together. What began as a passion project quickly grew into a serious pursuit: crafting chocolate that highlights the remarkable flavor of Hawaiian cacao and the vibrant ingredients of the islands.
Today, Valley Isle Chocolate remains deeply hands-on and proudly small-batch. Their bean-to-bar process means they oversee every step of chocolate making—from roasting and refining to tempering and molding. By working directly with carefully sourced cacao from Hawaii and select origins around the world, they create chocolate that reflects both the character of the beans and the care taken at every stage of production.
The company's roots are firmly planted in Maui's local community.
Early support from customers at the Kō Mahi'ai Mākeke farmers market in Kīhei helped the brand grow from a kitchen project into a chocolate maker. Valley Isle continues to invest in the island that inspired them—building relationships with Hawaiian cacao growers and planting their own orchard in Hāna.
