Kawaii Kravings: Artful Bonbons at Waikīkī Chocolates

Kawaii Kravings is a sugar-rush journey into Oahu’s world of delicious, Instagrammable sweets.

Imagine flavorful caramel and ganache oozing out of a chocolate shell and gliding across your tongue. That’s what it’s like biting into Lutgarda White’s creations at Waikīkī Chocolates. White studied chocolate-making in Belgium before opening a kiosk at the former ‘Ohana Hale Marketplace and then this small shop on Kapahulu Avenue. She is mostly known for her crazy creative and cute chocolate truffles and bonbons ($2.50 each).

Of her 39 bonbon flavors, the ones in my ultimate go-to bonbon box when I’m craving chocolate are Yuzu and Black Sesame, Salted Sakura, Yuzu Marmalade-Hazelnut Praline, Ube, Liliko‘i, Lychee Rose, Cookies and Cream, Banana Lumpia, and Green Tea. Each bite produces an eye-widening burst of flavor.

Other bonbons, all of which are made with Callebaut Belgian chocolate, incorporate local flavors like calamansi, Hawaiian chile, pandan and La‘ie vanilla. There are fun flavors like S’mores, Lava Flow, Banana Lumpia, and French Toast. White also sells chocolate bars, brownies, cookies, a variety of drinks including mocktails and herbal teas, and slices of cake. You can buy the bonbons in different quantities and get them in gift boxes. Find out which flavors are my top three and see my full review in this episode of Kawaii Kravings.

Open Tuesday to Saturday from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., 744 Kapahulu Ave., (808) 300-2472, waikikichocolates.com, @waikiki_chocolates