Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 2, 1 February 2014 — INNOVATION AND TRADITION, TWO INGREDIENTS of SUCCESS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INNOVATION AND TRADITION, TWO INGREDIENTS of SUCCESS

By Zach Villanueva For two Native Hawaiian-owned businesses, sueeess has eome in two eompletely different forms, but with both aehieving the same sweet result. Here, we look at two family-run enterprises that specialize in satisfying your sweet tooth - or that of your loved one. And just in time for Valentine's Day.

Bentos Moehi and Delectables Bentos Moehi and Delectables, locally owned and operated by Kui and Kristin Bento has gained mueh praise over the past few years for its innovative take on the Hawai'i staple moehi and campfire favorite marshmallow.

Who would of thought that you could take moehi and turn

it into a peanut butter and azuki bean sandwich? Or that you could create 22 types of marshmallows? In this case, a marshMAHALO (Kui and Kristin's fun take on their handcrafted, gourmet marshmallows). The Bentos did, and this is the reason why it is no surprise that there was a line of anxious customers waiting at 10 a.m. on a recent Wednesday at the Mililani Tech Park Farmers' Market. "Onee you taste that, it's all over, it's so good. That's the home-run hitter," said an onlooking vendor, referring to Bentos' signature Moehi Peanut Butter and Azuki Bean Sandwich. Success hasn't eome easy for Kui and Kristin; it required a lot of hard work, a helping hand and a little bit of luek. Before making gourmet truflle moehi and marshmahalos, Kui Bento had no experience in the culinary field,

he worked as a carpet installer and his wife, Kristin, a stay-at-home mother. Kui explained how their business started, "My daughter loves moehi, and when the economy went down I couldn't afford to buy moehi anymore, so my wife just said, 'Hey, just make 'um!' "

He then began to make moehi for family parties and word began to spread. Family and friends would ask, "Where could we buy this from?" Two years later, Bentos Moehi and Delectables has extended its reach to four farmers' markets across O'ahu. "God has just blessed what we are doing," said Kui. Its menu continues to expand and has grown to five types of truflle moehi and 22 varieties of marshmahalos, whieh include llavors like Maui Vanilla Bean & Caramel, Toasted Coconut Haupia and Orange Dream. Kui shared with me a customer favorite, the Waialua Dark Chocolate Truflle, a generous pieee of Waialua dark ehoeolate, infused with the perfect amount of sea salt, hand-wrapped in a layer of dark chocolate moehi. As my taste buds were pleasantly surprised by this uneonventional moehi, it is easy to see how their creative take on an old favorite has kept loyal customers coming back for more - with no signs of slowing down in sight. ■

Kapuakea Products

Specializing in producing confections and baked goods, Kapuakea Products continues to bake island-inspired favorites that serve to keep family tradition alive. Family-owned and operated, Kapuakea Products was purchased by longtime customers and sisters Betty Jane "BJ" Uegawa and Sharon Toriki in 2003. Prior to the purchase, Kapuakea had been up and running since the mid-1980s. With the same recipes and same methods, more than 25 years later, they continue to bake everything with no preservatives, something their customers truly appreciate.

"Our customers like that it's no preservatives, it's fresh, everybody just loves it," said Danelle Dinio, daughter of Sharon Toriki. Kapuakea Products it has been pleasing taste buds across Hawai'i with 'ono

desserts and gourmet breads like their signature Liliko'i Lemon I Bars and Banana I Poi Bread. If you walk I into Kapuakea ; during the holi1 day season, you ' ean count on

being surrounded An employee carefully plucks a Liliko'i Lemon Bar off of a by eellophane and baking sheet, in preparation for individual packaging. red satin ribbons. For those seeking variety, they offer gift baskets whieh include a little bit of everything. Filled with bars, cookies, brownies and breads, these gift baskets are a mainstay in downtown Honolulu. "Christmas time and Secretaries Day is always busy," said Danelle. Danelle handed me a bag of their famous, powder-sugar covered Liliko'i Lemon Bars. After one bar I understood why they eonhnue to leave the recipe unchanged after all these years. When you take your first bite, there is no overwhelming tart llavor, something very eommon with most lemon bars, but not these. It's the perfect halanee of liliko'i (sweet) and lemon (tart) that make these little guys so great. Because all of their products contain no preservatives, Kapuakea is a pre-order only bakery, whieh means that you must eall in advance for your order. But it is worth the eall. With eight items on the menu, Kapuakea Products has found a way to mix Hawai'i ingredients with homemade goods in a way that has made it a sweet success. ■

www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org NATIVE HAWAIIAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS

EC0N0MIC SELFSUFFICIENCY

Bentos Moehi anel Delectables Find them atthese locations: Tuesdayand Friday 7 a.m.-l p.m. - Fort Street Mall Farmers' Market Wednesday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. - Mililani Tech Park Farmers' Market Saturday 8 a.m.-noon - Kaka'ako and Pearlridge farmers' markets Phone: (808) 294-2370 Online: bentosmd.com

Kui Bento, left, explains the process of hand making a Marshmahalo to a group of customers at the Mililani Tech Park Farmers' Market. - Photos: laeh Villanueva

Kapuakea Products 439 Kamani St. in Honolulu Phone: (808) 596-7855 Online: kapuakeaproducts.com *By pre-orderonly