Arturo’s Hot Flavors of Hawaii

Arturo Montoya came to Hawaii over forty years ago with his Velzy longboard with a hunger for his family’s 500-year tradition of delicious Mexican recipes. In 1995, Steve Geimer went in to the company and the hot sauces were produced. Offering the best hot sauces and salsa ranging from Mild to Wild, you’ll surely find the one suited for your own liking.

Aloha Tofu

The art of making tofu takes a lifetime to master, but not for Kamesaburo and Tsukuro Uyehara. In 1950, they took over their friends company and started the Aloha Tofu Factory. Fame and popularity was not part of their dream for their company but instead, it was a means to provide food at their table. From the first tofu shop at Dillingham to the Ala Moana Farmers Market, which was swept out in a fire, the Aloha tofu factory rose to Akepo Lane in Kalihi where it can still be found today.

Aloha Shoyu

In the multi-ethnic district in Kalihi right outside downtown Honolulu, five Japanese families collaborated to create the Aloha Shoyu company in 1946. This team’s dedication and entrepreneurial spirit powered them all throughout to contend with years of tough competition with their limited capital to become today’s market leader in Hawaii’s Soy Sauce sales.

Cook Kwee’s Maui Cookies

If you’re looking for something that’s big on island-style flavors, Cook Kwee’s Maui cookies are just what you need. With flavors like Macadamia Nut, Coconut, Pineapple and Kona Coffee, Cook Kwee’s brings the most superior, crisp and delicious cookies by using only the finest and freshest ingredients to tickle your senses. It’s hard to decide if it’s actually their commitment to excellence or their desire to produce a quality product but whatever it may be, people will agree that the bakers’ of Cook Kwee’s know what they’re doing. Operating since 1981, Cook Kwee’s Maui cookies are no secret to locals all across Hawaii and even some parts of the world. Have a bite and you’ll instantly get hooked.

Kauai Kookie

The Kauai Kookie Kompany has been baking cookies and mixing unique blends of dressings using tropical ingredients for over 40 years. The original cookie from the island of Kauai is none other than the Kauai Kookies. The Kauai Kookie Kompany bakers have been preparing these treats in the small town of Hanapepe ever since 1965. Their Hawaiian Hula Dressings have also been a favourite of the local residents for a long time.

Kauai Coffee Company

One of the first companies to grow sugar is the McBryde Sugar Company which started out in the 1800’s. From this sugar company, the Kauai Coffee Company emerged and is now part of Alexander & Baldwin. In 1987, a limited coffee plantation became operational as an Alexander & Baldwin subsidiary. This plantation started its operations with McBryde as the grower and processor of coffee beans and the Hills Brothers as its roaster and marketer. Everything seemed well but in 1992 a hurricane damaged the plantation and the Hills Brothers’ successor, the Nestle Beverage Company withdrew from their partnership. In 1995, McBryde decided to stop the sugar operation but continue the coffee operation. This is how the Kauai Coffee Company rose to become one of the top-producing coffee companies.

ITO EN (USA)

Green tea is slowly gaining popularity today because of its health benefits. Green tea is said to have an antibacterial property that has been proven through research.

ITO EN Inc. in North America was established in May 2001. They built the company based on the mission of launching ITO EN’s green tea products and to build a culture with interest in authentic green tea not only in America but in the world. In 2002, the company introduced their Teas’ Tea line which is a natural, unsweetened, bottled tea. To reach a wider audience, the company opened a flagship store located in New York City. Today, ITO EN has captured the interest of the media and the public making them well on their way in fulfilling their mission.

Island Princess

In 1983, the husband and wife team of Dr. Michael Purdy and Gwendolyn Purdy moved to Maui to begin dental practice. It was also this year that the Island Princess came to be known. The Purdy’s opened a retail store that gave customers a special treat – they were able to see chocolates being hand-dipped in front of their own eyes. Due to the success and fame the Island Princess was getting, they needed to move to Honolulu in 1989 to get a bigger labor pool and for convenient shipping. In 1998, the company took a big step by acquiring a macadamia nut orchard. This made them one of the small number of companies that are able to grow, process, manufacture and distribute macadamia nuts and products.

HPC Foods

Kakuichi Tottori founded the Honolulu Poi Company in 1946. This is a small company with only three employees that was in the business of poi milling. In the 1960’s, the company took on a new venture and entered the business of growing sprouts. Aside from this, they also distributed products produced by other companies. In 1970’s, the company took on the business of vegetable and fruit processing. During this time there was a shortage of raw materials so they made an experimental farm in Haleiwa to develop the practices used for growing taro. In 1990, the Honolulu Poi Company became HPC Foods, Ltd. and in 2004, they built a produce processing center.

HFM FoodService

In the 19th century, a wheat flour milling company arose and became the Kerr Pacific Corporation. This corporation operated flour mills in Honolulu which is known as the Hawaiian Flour Mill. From the foodservice distribution division of the Hawaiian Flour Mill business, a separate company started out. HFM FoodService became a new company when the mills moved to a different and larger location. In 2004, HFM purchased MORRAD Foodservice which is found in Maui. MORRAD Foodservice remained as an independent division of HFM Food Service. Today, HFM provides their services through the HFM MORRAD facility.