Will Lydgate

Owner, President - Lydgate Farms, HCCA

Will Lydgate is the founder of Lydgate Farms on Kauai, the premier cacao farm in the islands. His family roots go back to the days of the Hawaiian Kingdom. With inspiration from Old Hawaii, Lydgate is creating a bright future for Hawaiian value-added agriculture, profitable regenerative land management, and high-touch hospitality.

Lydgate has earned multiple Top 50 Best in the World designations from Cacao of Excellence, plus the coveted Gold Award, while operating the #1 paid activity on TripAdvisor statewide.

Will believes that change happens at the level of the individual. Lydgate Farms’ mission is to change the way the world tastes chocolate, one person at a time. By converting a percentage of the Hawaii visitor population to a high-story, high-quality product class, Lydgate supports the prosperity of his team, and the land and people he manages, while elevating the Hawaii brand with a new best-in-the-world destination category.

As current president of the Hawaii Chocolate and Cacao Association, Will wants to make Hawaii the global center of excellence in cacao quality, research and education, and chocolate tourism. Hawaii will be known as the Napa Valley of Chocolate.

Will Lydgate is also an active musician — a bass and stringed instrument player and recording engineer. He has shared the stage with musicians such as Taj Mahal, Bobby Weir, Jack Johnson, Billy Kreutzmann, Cas Haley, and Chris Berry. A graduate Summa Cum Laude of Berklee College of Music, Will holds a Master of Music degree in Music Production, Technology and Innovation..

Will brings a grounded sense of purpose and place to this year’s theme, GROUND. As a farmer, craftsman, and cultural steward, he reminds us that the deepest transformations happen at the root level—through daily care, attention, and intention. His work at Lydgate Farms isn’t just about cacao; it’s about cultivating a relationship with land, legacy, and excellence.

There’s something to be learned from farmers and craftspeople in how we regain our focus on what matters most. Will’s approach invites us to slow down, reconnect with our senses, and value what’s real. He helps us see that grounded innovation—whether in agriculture, business, or life—starts with presence, patience, and pride in the process.

L I N K S:

lydgatefarms.com

Instagram@kauaiwill