This past week, the Mauna Loa team celebrated the 61st Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Continuing Mauna Loa's tradition of being the official sponsor of the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade that takes place on the Saturday of Merrie Monarch week, team members from across the organization worked together to build a 40’ float highlighting the launch of Mauna Loa Paradise Pops, the latest addition to their macadamia milk non dairy ice cream line. The float featured 8’ tall inflatable versions of the three new released Pops: Mango Lilikoʻi Vanilla (an ode to the classic creamsicle), Strawberry Guava (classic tropical fruit flavor), and Kona Coffee Crunch (pure mac nut-flavored indulgence).

Another key highlight was the release of a limited edition box of Mauna Loa chocolate macadamia nuts, featuring a design based on a lei honoring Hawaiʻi island, made by 4th generation leimaker Leilani Kanaʻauao Huggins. "Mauna Loa wanted the [lei] design to represent Hawaiʻi, Mauna Loa on the Big Island, so the colors for me have always been red, orange, this fiery lei of aloha," said Huggins.

The lei box is available for purchase exclusively on MaunaLoa.com and the Mauna Loa Visitor Center while supplies last.