I really enjoyed making this video. It's times like this that I'm glad I have the flexibility to talk about a variety of topics related to Hawaii, including places that I like. Not a sponsored video. Just telling it like I see it. Links to these local businesses are in the video description. 🤙

Thanks for the video. I’m a small business owner as well and will check out all 3 of these businesses when we come in January!

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

🤙

I was impressed with Hawaiian style chili company’s prices too when we bought from them at the Pearlridge farmers market. It’s not practical for us to buy local all the time, especially for groceries, but we love when we can!

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, it can be tough to always shop local. Gotta pick and choose. 🤙

Great video man! You tell a great story of community and love. I plan to visit them while I'm in Honolulu next month! Mahalo!

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Mahalo. Yes, they are great businesses, but even better people.

Yes, indeed! It certainly sounds like these three places have nailed it when it comes to customer service and caring about the product. It is the total of the entire package that dictates if it isn't the greatest value.

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Agree 🤙

We love to shop local and support small businesses in general but especially love visiting them when in Hawai’i. The Aloha spirit just makes it even more enjoyable for us. Mahalo nui for sharing Waffle and Berry and Hawaiian Style Chili Co with us. Adding them to our list of grindz for our next trip back. We love Aloha Revolution and the meaning behind the upside down Aloha and so glad we were able to discover them at the Omiyage Market at the Waimalu Shopping Center. So so many local businesses and not enough time to visit and experience them all. Keep up the awesome videos…❤ them!! 🤙🏽🙌🏽🌈🌺

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Definitely give those places a try next time. Amazing value.

Glad to see the encouragement for the small local businesses. Most of them are decent and thinking about the early days of working, I must admit sometimes, there are days when I could have been a better to the customers and not have a difficult day. Some workers are natural, like my cousin's daughter, who even at an early age, was known as Aunty Aloha and she wasn't a mother. Others develop later. Having a difficult day happens to everyone, but now, I understand that and tend to give business multiple chances before I think about not giving my business to them. They usually end up being okay. Most will go out of the way to give you good service, especially if they know you're a regular. I worked a long-time part time at a supermarket, and after I had quit to work full time, I'm sitting in LA airport drinking coffee with family before a flight out, when I'm approached by a woman who asked me if I worked at x supermarket in x town, I replied yes. She recognized me from when she lived there and shopped regularly there. It certainly makes you realize that regular customers recognize the places that they go to and it isn't always the prices but the people that make them come back. It's a small world and made me think about the service that I gave after that.

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Isn't it amazing that we connect with the people working at some of these places? Always great to see a familiar face.

Thanks I noticed your cap upside-down ALOHA , I agree we must support local businesses. Good to know,mahalo

Great information about local businesses, it’s really important to keep supporting the local businesses, they offer the richness of the culture & traditions, and that’s kind of what sets them apart from a chain, which is nationwide or global. I just liked the setting you chose to film this video, it just went perfect with the topic you are talking about, that’s one of my favorite parks

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Mahalo for the comment. Like I mentioned, I used to be about price and convenience, but these businesses have really opened up my purchasing decisions.

Never heard of the first one but the second two our family loves too! Good video and love the conversation around supporting local

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear that other locals support these local businesses too.

While I’m thankful for things like Walmart and Costco, you just can’t beat the feeling you get from these local businesses. You really feel like an old friend whenever you enter. Plus the food is sure to win you over.

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

🤙

I always go with return business that you don’t buy what they do, you buy why they do it. That’s what I find in successful local businesses

👠 I get the "small business" concept. My auntie has a small bakery, so I know the struggles !! I live in Maryland, and I love visiting hawaii, yet one thing I've noticed is that (although) the people I've interacted wi were cordial, I noticed a slight "snobbish" attitude about them, yet hawaii is full of mainlanders (and big companies) , basically are keeping that state afloat! When the pandemic hit, they were recruiting nurses from the mainland to help out, because not enough "locals" qualified as Nurses, but I declined because I didn't think that I would have been appreciated?! The majority of docs, nurses, teachers any major professions are from the mainland, but the "locals" don't appreciate "outsiders" smh. I wish (some) would quit being so snobby. I live in a state with the best seafood in the country, yet you don't hear me saying - we're the best no other. (big) companies don't offer what the mom&pop places can!! Who cares?? Nobody is paying that close attention to such nonsense. Even the mom & pops owners frequent & love the bigger companies. The state is here for everyone to enjoy & appreciate (and not feel guilty) about doing so.(Some) Hawaiians need to get out more! 😊

I always supported the local business .. It’s so sad to see mom& pop businesses gone . Mahalo for the great video

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Sad to see some of them go. But always look forward to what new businesses can do.

Most of the well known mom and pop restaurants I visited in my youth are sadly gone. If you are adventurous, you can get out and try the new ones that pop up. For the most part, the best food come from these shops. The little hardware shops are my favorite as they can always help you find stuff and answer questions. Something hard to find in big box stores or national chains.

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

While it's sad to see some of them go, I'm looking forward to the new businesses that people come up with.

Love your hats!

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. Aloha Revolution is the brand. 🤙

Much mahalos for the mention! Pleasant surprise. Appreciate it very much! 🙏🏼🙇🏻‍♂️🤙🏼

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Appreciate the message behind the brand. Something with sharing 🤙

Thank you for highlighting the three businesses. I have wondered about the brand of the hats with aloha spelled backwards. You answered my question. If I ever get back to Oahu I will check out the two eating establishments. For now, I will check out Aloha Revolutionary online

I had a bad experience at the Jack in the Box on school and Kam IV rd recently. I had been walk / shopping at the Kam shopping center and was on my way back to my folks house off Kam IV rd. My mom likes the JitB tacos so I decided to stop and get some. I stood at the counter for over 5 minutes and got no acknowledgement whatsoever. It was about 12:30, I got that they were busy but I was the only one in line at the counter and to be completely ignored really turned me off. Needless to say, I left without making a purchase. I guess the big box restaurants can afford to lose business but it left me feeling like I will never ever go to another Jack in the Box ever again no matter where in this world I am! It is so refreshing to hear about a small business that gives you the time of day and cares about their customers. Next time I’m out and about I’ll check out the smaller locally owned businesses instead.

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

It's tough at some of those places. We've had to wait at some of the fast food places too. Just not enough staff.

@melanieathwal4038

Жыл бұрын

@@HelloFromHawaii so true but a simple acknowledgment like a nod of the head or a “I’ll be with you shortly” would have gone a long way.

So many families I know who had fine business or were very talented crafts people …. Have paid for the children to get a better education. And they move on to different professions, leaving the founders to sell or retire.

Totally agree with your values!!

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Mahalo 🤙

Mahalo for the video. Finally, we get to go home for a visit in a couple of weeks. We normally hang out on the North Shore of Oahu. So, we go to places like Haleiwa Bowls, Ted's Bakery, Haleiwa Joe's, Papa Ole's, and we nevah forget Zippys! And den there are my relative places. LOL! Anywayz, we'll check out some of the places you mentioned. Thanks!

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Those are some great places to check out. 🤙

Liked this video. This video goes beyond just the talk but gives a real life easy way for others to act and it is genuine. Great thinking video, look forward to more. ct from SF,ca

I shall be going down your list when i visit. Totally with you that places/ chefs like Hawaii Style Chili Co should charge more for homestyle cooking, so that THEY are better rewarded for their hardwork.

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Glad it's affordable, though. And I think they make up the difference in volume of sales. The locals know 😆

My mom needed a refrigerator and I told her to look at the big box stores but she insisted on going to Disco Mart. I think the cost was $100 more than the big box but we don’t regret it. The owner was my mom’s Japanese school classmate +70 years ago in Waipahu so my mom wanted to support local. The experience was like I was buying from an aunty/uncle’s place or going to Arakawa’s.

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Mahalo for sharing. Yeah, sometimes it's nice to shop local. I bought arare at a crack seed shop the other day. Could have gone to Longs, but decided to just stop by the small store and buy it.

Wow cool those places. Fun good places. Good eats.

IT REMINDS ME OF LIVING IN EUGENE OREGON IN THE 90S. THERE WAS A HAWAIIAN FAMILY THAT HAD A FOOD BOOTH AT THE COUNTY FAIR. WHEN THEY WERE OPEN, THE LINES WERE SO LONG FOR THEIR HAWAIIAN FOOD!!

@gordonames1892

Жыл бұрын

I SHOULD ADD, MANY PEOPLE TRIED TO ENCOURAGE THE FAMILY TO OPEN A FULL TIME RESTRAUNT, TOO MUCH TROUBLE.

My friends identical twin brother lives in Hawaii. He makes half the money his bro makes working construction in NYC but is twice as happy and healthy. It even shows, he looks 10 yrs younger. He works for an airline, surfs everyday, pretty local wife and kids, and lives close to the beach. Even a bad day there is probably better than a great one here.

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Mahalo for sharing 🤙

Great review. I’ll be visiting home soon and will try out your recommendations. 🤙🏽

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

🤙

I have never been to Hawaii that is on my bucket list. Love your culture. I live in the Midwest my family is here. Love shopping local

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Hope you get a chance to visit 🤙

Love local places.. but also the locals that work for the bigger brands, they live and work here also

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

True. Glad we have those jobs too.

Local mom and pops are friends with their customer base

I love hat the Açaí bowl at Waffle and Berry is vegan. I wish I was there now because it looks delicious!

@jessearmaline7485

Жыл бұрын

That

@VH07V

Жыл бұрын

​@@jessearmaline7485 You can leave it at "I love hat" if you would like. 🧢🤪

My experience with shopping local here in Hawaii is everyone says it but nobody does it visit Walmart keeaumoku or Safeway any time of day

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

I think it's tough to exclusively shop local, but nice to have a handful of places to support.

One locally owned shop that I like to frequent a lot is The Refinery @ Kahala Mall. They are so friendly and have unique products from canteens, stationary stuff, etc. I do go back a lot to my favorite places to eat, such as the The Golden Pork Restaurant on S. King St. Their salted pork bowls are to die for and it’s cheap (around $7)! Can anyone answer this question…it’s a bit confusing for me. Some restaurants charge gratuity. Do you guys still tip? Mahalo!

@RodSwansmad

Жыл бұрын

That is a good question! Tipping (could be a whole new subject for Chris to do) Matt’s question about tipping and I’ll add a few more questions for Chris. *1st I’m an Aussie and booked a 14 night stay in Waikiki for May 2023. I would like to eat at a lot of local places. As a rule in Australia we don’t tip , it’s not expected to tip here but you can tip if you feel everything was good. There is “no expected”amount to tip. *2nd Watching a lot of KZread foodies of Hawaii (to get a feel of what’s going on) and they show the bill , there is 15% , 18% and 20% at the end of the bill. This tells me they “do expect” a tip. What if you didn’t tip ? Or you only wanted to tip 10% ? Or if the bill was $19.23 and you rounded it up to $20.00 How would all this be looked at ? *3rd As a Aussie tourist not accustomed to tipping, this adds more money on to the trip. Hopefully you can dissect the tipping process, who actually gets the tip (the sever or is it shared with all that work there or the business)

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Mahalo for the recommendations. We usually tip at sit-in restaurants.

❣️⚡

😊🤙🏿

Local food is so good

Ah man I was already feeling guilty about eating at a chain tonight. Now you got me feeling super guilty.

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

😆

I work in Jeffersonvill indiana which walmart is located every 20 miles apart. You can use highway and find mcdonalds and Walmart. Walmart is internet connected which I was working in michagan. I wanted to surf the lakes. I found costco and ordered surfboard from Huntington Beach Costco Jerry Lopez foam board. They shipped it paid $100 dollars. Yes, its price. I could of purchased a surfboard and lost money. I dont see it , its about wasting money.. save…. My rich friends dont buy everything… Downey ca.

Where do you buy all your caps? I'm digging several of those designs. Traveling to Oahu soon and would love to pick up one or two to come back to the mainland.

@ProfoundNonsense

Жыл бұрын

Lol, just watched the video and my question has been answered.

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

😄 link in the description

Kona Hawaii lost the very best; I have ever experienced. An office supply , it might have been because folks just have to retire

I lived in HI before Costco and Sam's Club. I like Local business, but I would go against the deglobalization. I remember when people shopped at NEX. I think that they're room for both. I will continue to shop globally utilizing their scales of economy in logistics.

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

Agree. Room to shop at both. We still get most of our stuff from the bigger stores, but always nice to pick and choose a few local places to support.

I'm curious Don Quijote, Foodland or Tamura's market?

@HelloFromHawaii

Жыл бұрын

We shop at Don Quijote. 🤙

Costco. Only way to fight inflation.

Why didn't you call me? Now it's too late ʻōlelo a pau ʻaʻohe hana