A sweet deal at the Hawaii Chocolate Festival
Sponsored Edition: Love Bites

Santa has no idea how good he has it: cookies, milk, cozy clothes and an army to help him get things get done.
You, however, barely survived Valentine's Day; flitting around until your wings are about to fall off, biceps aching from all those arrows, and let's not forget that a loincloth is NOT the warmest choice in the middle of February. Not to mention the last time you asked the gods for your first raise in 1,000 years, they hid behind that old "you do it for love" excuse.
Don't get bitter. Regain your sweet demeanor at the Hawaii Chocolate Festival.
Taste silky samples from top local chocolatiers such as Madre Chocolate, Malie Kai, Manoa Chocolate and Maui's Sweet Paradise Chocolatier makes it easy to swallow your frustration. Drown your sorrows in six chocolate liqueurs, Kona Brewing Company's Black Sand Porter with cacao nibs and Johnson Brother's flight of chocolate wines, and by the time you stumble across confections such as mini double chocolate cheesecake cupcakes on a layer of Waialua Estates dark chocolate and chocolate bacon, you'll be ready to fall in love again.
Finish unwinding with a stop by the Chocolate Inspired Spa, a cup of chocolate tea and a walk through the chocolate gardeners cacao trees and chocolate mint plants to a soothing background of live music.
There's no shame in flying solo. But if you feel like bringing some of your thousands of admirers, buy your tickets now to save $5 on each admission.
Now that's amore.
The Hawaii Chocolate Festival is Saturday, February 23 from noon to 5 p.m. at Dole Cannery Shops. Tickets are $20 in advance online and $25 at the door. Find more information here.