Work recently brought me to Hawaiian Host over on Alakawa Street. I don’t eat a lot of chocolate (makes me break out!), but I always did love those chocolate-covered macadamia nut candies with the pretty lady on the box since I was little. My grandparents to this day still keep those exact candies in a tupperware in their refrigerator & will consistently bring it out every time I visit to tempt me.

Anyway, inspection of the ground level was ordinary. I was tired, it was hot, & I had put my hair up in a ponytail which was giving me a headache. I really need to chop my hair off, but my hairdresser just gifted me with the very exclusive (I understand only 3 salons in Honolulu are licensed to do it) $500 “Yuko” straight perm for my birthday & she’d probably kill me if I told her I wanted to cut it all off now.

The 2nd floor was where production was, & we passed through rooms of chocolate, rooms of macadamia nuts, & my personal favorite, a room for toffee (see below). I snapped these photos while our escort wasn’t looking & was informed later that photographs of their equipment are not allowed, so I have tried to avoid showing anything compromising but… come on… you gotta see that chocolate mixer thingy!!

That thing was large enough for a person to crawl into & immerse themselves in chocolate. People need to know that areas of chocolate this big exist. It’s not just at Willy Wonka’s.

I kid you not, after about 15 minutes I got high. I’m serious. I was giddy & giggly & would probably have laughed at all my grandmother’s jokes that she gets off the internet. I felt love for all mankind (well, except Liz Hata.). Now that I think of it, maybe that’s why my grandparents keep the candy in the refrigerator for me. Anyway, I turned to Jay (in the shower cap up there) & said, “I think I’m high!” And then I giggled. I did!

Now, supposedly chocolate – even just the smell of chocolate – can cause our brains to produce happy chemicals. When I told my dad about my experience, he looked at me & said, “You’re serotonin deficient.” This is possible. You shoulda seen me in high school. My sister said I should try Seraphim or something.

But ohhh, that toffee. I would never eat the stuff, but… ohhh, the smell of toffee. Wake up & smell the toffee. I want to set up a loungechair in the corner of that room & spend an afternoon with a good book.

However, chocolate makes me break out. I can feel one coming out on my chin even as I type.

This is because the manager kindly sent us off with a sack of candy. I think my complexion is ruined for the rest of the month.