ALOHA
The Kona Bar
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare coffee‑forward bar that actually tastes like Kona coffee, wrapped in a vegan, gluten‑free recipe with no sugar alcohols or stevia. Chewy oats, coconut, and macadamias meet a rice‑and‑pumpkin seed protein blend for a dessert‑adjacent finish.
When to choose ALOHA The Kona Bar
Coffee lovers who want a plant‑based, moderately sweet bar that eats like a mini meal—great for travel breakfasts, mid‑morning snacks, or pre‑hike fuel. Less ideal if you need 20g+ protein per bar or avoid tree nuts.
What's in the ALOHA bar?
ALOHA’s Kona Bar leans plant-first: a brown rice–pumpkin seed protein blend under a flavor layer built from Kona coffee, coconut flakes, macadamias, and dairy-free chocolate chips. Its macros read like a small snack-meal—14g protein (mid‑pack), 25g carbs (on the higher side for bars), and 10g fat—driven by nuts/seeds plus a touch of coconut and cocoa butter.
Sweetness comes from cane and brown sugars alongside tapioca syrup, with tapioca fiber and oats stepping in to add soluble fiber and a steadier finish—no artificial sweeteners required.
- Protein
- 14 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 25 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 230
Protein
1415MIDProtein comes from a blend of brown rice protein and pumpkin seed protein—fully plant-based and free of dairy and soy. Rice protein is light on lysine, and pumpkin seed helps round out that amino acid gap, so the pairing is smarter than rice alone. At 14g, it sits around the middle of the pack for bars: enough for a solid snack, especially if you’re aiming plant-based.
Fat
109MIDMost of the 10g fat comes from nuts and seeds—sunflower butter, almond butter, and macadamias—plus coconut flakes, cocoa butter from the chocolate chips, and a small amount of Ponova (edible pongamia) oil, a refined mid‑oleic seed oil. That means a largely unsaturated profile for satiety and mouthfeel, with some saturated fat from coconut and cocoa butter. If you prefer to limit refined seed oils, note that Ponova and the sunflower oil in the seed butter are refined, though used in modest amounts.
Carbs
2520HIGHThe carbs skew mixed: refined tapioca syrup and brown sugar bring quick energy, while rolled oats and soluble tapioca fiber (a resistant dextrin from cassava) add texture and a slower, more sustained release. Expect a faster lift up front from the syrup, with oats, fiber, fat, and protein helping to smooth the landing. It’s not a pure “whole‑food carbs only” bar, but the blend aims to balance speed with staying power.
Sugar
54MIDWith 5g of sugar, sweetness comes from cane sugar in the chocolate chips, brown sugar, and tapioca syrup—refined sources rather than fruit. There are no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols; a little vegetable glycerin is used to keep the bar soft and mildly sweet. Expect moderate sweetness and some quick sugars, buffered by added fiber and the bar’s fat/protein mix.
Calories
230210MIDAt 230 calories (higher than many snack bars), this reads as a mini meal: calories are shared by carbs and fats, with protein rounding things out. It’s better suited to a pre‑hike pocket or a coffee‑and‑bar breakfast than a tiny between‑calls nibble. The calorie density mostly reflects the nuts/seeds and syrups that hold the bar together.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamins or minerals jump past 10% Daily Value on the label. You’ll get small amounts of iron and potassium, with likely a touch of vitamin E coming naturally from sunflower and almond ingredients, though it isn’t quantified. Think of this bar as energy and protein first, micronutrients second.
Additives
This recipe relies on a few refined helpers for structure: soluble tapioca fiber (a manufactured resistant dextrin), tapioca syrup, and vegetable glycerin to keep it moist. Ponova oil is a refined, mid‑oleic seed oil used for texture and stability. Beyond that, most ingredients are pantry‑familiar (nuts, oats, coconut, chocolate, coffee), so the overall processing level sits in the “moderately processed” camp rather than ultra‑processed.
Ingredient List
Brown rice grain
Pumpkin seeds
Cassava root starch
Cassava starch
Sunflower plant seeds
Sunflower seeds
Cacao beans
Sugarcane stalks
Cocoa beans
Vanilla orchid beans
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I LOVE ALOHA BARS and this flavor is tied for my favorite”
“I really like Aloha bars. Heat one up for 20 seconds in the microwave and they taste even better!”
“I love aloha bars so much! I had weight loss surgery so now, when I crave a candy bar, I eat an aloha bar instead. Absolutely delicious”
Main Praise
Fans consistently point to taste and approachability. One Redditor put it plainly: “I LOVE ALOHA BARS,” while another swears a 20‑second microwave warm‑up turns them into soft, bakery‑adjacent treats.
Several people use ALOHA as a candy‑bar swap—sweet enough to feel indulgent without the cloying aftertaste that plagues many diet bars. Major outlets back that up: Bon Appétit and SELF both named ALOHA their Best Vegan pick, citing the chewy texture, clean finish, and solid plant protein.
Amazon reviewers echo the theme—less chalk, more chew, and relief that the sweetness comes from real sugar rather than sugar alcohols. For everyday snacking, 14g of protein lands in that comfortable middle zone that actually keeps hunger in check.
Main Criticism
Not everyone’s sold.
A few tasters find certain ALOHA flavors too sweet, even though the brand generally keeps added sugar modest; sweetness perception is personal, and chocolate plus syrups can read richer than the label suggests.
Texture divides the room: some call it soft and satisfying; others report crumble or a slightly powdery chew, especially in variety packs. A minority mention digestive discomfort—likely individual sensitivity to soluble tapioca fiber or vegetable glycerin, both used to keep plant‑based bars moist.
The 14g protein is another sticking point for heavy lifters who want 20g or more in one go.
And if you avoid refined seed oils on principle, the small amount of Ponova (a refined oil from the pongamia tree) and sunflower oil in the seed butter may give you pause.
The Middle Ground
Cue the coffee debate.
“Too sweet” shows up in a few comments, but the Kona Bar clocks 5g of sugar and skips sugar alcohols and stevia, which explains why many folks say it tastes clean rather than diet‑y.
If your palate leans ultra‑unsweetened, the chocolate chips and syrups will still read sweet; if you’re coming from candy bars, this will feel restrained. Texture seems flavor‑dependent and fixable—several fans swear by the 20‑second microwave trick, and the oats, coconut, and nuts nudge the chew toward snack‑bar territory instead of nougat.
On digestion, tapioca fiber is generally gentler than sugar alcohols, but it can bother sensitive stomachs; that’s less a red flag and more a know‑thyself note. The protein debate is straightforward: 14g won’t replace a big post‑lift shake, but it’s plenty for a travel breakfast or mid‑morning bridge.
The only true outlier is the seed‑oil question; amounts here are small, yet if you’re avoiding refined oils entirely, this won’t be your first pick.
What's the bottom line?
ALOHA’s The Kona Bar is a coffee‑forward, plant‑based snack that tastes like a treat and behaves like a mini meal. The flavor profile—Kona coffee, coconut, macadamias, and chocolate—feels special, while the 14g of rice‑and‑pumpkin seed protein, 25g of carbs, and 10g of fat make it useful beyond dessert. ” If you prize maximum protein per bite or avoid refined oils, you’ll have better fits elsewhere.
But for vegan and gluten‑free eaters who want a bar that’s satisfying, pleasantly sweet, and easy to live with day after day, this is a standout—especially if you warm it up for 20 seconds and pretend you’re strolling out of a café in Kona. Condensed listicle take: ALOHA The Kona Bar—coffee, coconut, and macadamias in a vegan, gluten‑free package with 14g plant protein and no sugar alcohols; a tasty mini meal for coffee lovers who don’t need a 20g protein slam.