The Story Behind Heilala Vanilla

Heilala Vanilla’s origins began in 2002 as a aid project founded New Zealander, John Ross, and his family. 

The Kingdom of Tonga had been ravaged by Cyclone Waka, leaving the Islands and its people shattered in the wake of an exceptionally vicious natural disaster.

Partnering with a local family in the village of Utungake, together they established a small vanilla plantation that robustly grew into the world renowned humanitarian vanilla brand, Heilala Vanilla.