Salt Is Filling Up Fast
There’s a lot going on at SALT at Our Kakaako — recurring events make the area the place to be, and just recently, a number of new shops and restaurants have opened their doors. We took a look at a few of the new businesses that now call the area home.
BEVY MARKET
bevyhawaii.com/bevymarket
594-7445
An extension of Bevy Bar, Bevy Market caters to the daytime crowd, offering gourmet salads and sandwiches, as well as an array of locally made cold dishes from the likes of Onda Pasta. Future plans, according to co-owner and marketing lead Timo Lee, include a New York-style deli, which will house luxury meats and cheeses.
The new market also means a shift in Bevy Bar’s nighttime menu — but don’t worry, those happy hour oysters still remain front and center.
P.S. Don’t forget to check out our past Gastronome story at metrohnl.com for a more in-depth look at the food.
HAPPINESS U
yourhappinessu.com
436-6444
Inspiration and positivity radiate from Alice Inoue’s Happiness U. The business aims to help people look at things in a more positive light and train their brain to change its perspective. Basically, Inoue says, “If you don’t change your perception, your life is still going to suck! The more you focus on the bad, the more that becomes your reality and that’s the lens through which you see everything.”
Happiness U hosts classes that cover themes such as clearing your clutter, studying positive affirmations and how to bless your home.
As a preview for what the center can offer, Inoue shared some quick words of advice for those still suffering from post-election blues: “If you’re going to complain and blame and gripe about something, put your energy into doing something that will make a difference.”
Coming up for Inoue is her annual talk at Macy’s Special Events Room at Ala Moana Center, slated for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10. Themed “2017: The Year of Initiation,” Friday’s event features “an all-encompassing perspective on the astrological themes of 2017” to help you get through the year. Purchase tickets at yourhappinessu.com.
TREEHOUSE
treehouse-shop.com
597-8733
Best known for its focus on film photography, treehouse celebrates all things analog, and now has a new location to facilitate conversation about hands-on approaches and old-school methodology. Just a hop, skip and a jump away from its old location off Ward Avenue, treehouse still has all its same offerings, including its popular Film Camera Swap, which invites buyers and sellers of film cameras or vinyl records to do business and share stories. Its next swap runs from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 18 at SALT’s outdoor barn area. Hungry Ear Records also will be on site, and Maximum Joy Collective will spin vinyl. Register at contact@treehouse-shop.com.
You can read more on tree-house and its current photography exhibit at metrohnl.com.
MILO
Sharing a space with Paiko and Arvo is surf/culture/art/ style boutique Milo. The one-stop shop has everything from ocean wear and handmade jewelry to locally made beauty products — “All organic, everything is food for skin,” says owner Jake Mizuno — and accessories like sunglasses. Future stock items will include surfboards, as well.
World champion bodysurfer Mark Cunningham’s art is displayed in Milo
“We’re sending a message that Hawaii’s street culture needs to come back,” he adds.
He’s had his eye on the spot for more than 15 years (his warehouse was located across the street), and noticed a shift in clientele and culture once Paiko opened its doors.
Mizuno, who comes from a competitive surfing background, has dabbled in surf wear for many years, but, as he says, Milo is his baby.
Milo’s mission also is to perpetuate local art, and currently mounted on the wall is art by world champion bodysurfer Mark Cunningham, whose current display features the treasures he finds in the ocean like driftwood and old skegs.
And something to look forward to is the eventual installation of a vegan, organic soft serve station. Count us in.
BUTTERFLY ICE CREAM
butterflycreamery.com
429-4483
The newest kid on the block is Butterfly Ice Cream, which holds its official grand opening Feb. 10. Its pride and joy is its made-from-scratch ice cream, as well as its homemade waffle cones and sorbets.
Butterfly Ice Cream’s Earl Grey concoction NICOLE KATO PHOTOS
Traditional flavors like Kona Coffee and Vanilla Bean grace the menu, as do more intriguing ones such as Earl Grey and Lehua Honey, which feature goods straight from Hawaii island.
It also boasts a handful of adult-only flavors like Daiquiri Sorbet (dark rum and lemon zest), Irish Cream and Peach Chardonnay, with flavors rotating on a regular basis. According to owner C. C. Foo, who previously spent nearly 20 years at Nestle, he has recipes for 50 flavors but only serves up 18 at a time in small batches. Patrons even can take a peek behind the glass into the open kitchen to see exactly how the goods are made.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT SALT AT OUR KAKAAKO INCLUDE:
• SALT Bar Crawl, 5 p.m. Feb. 17 — The second installment of SALT Bar Crawl takes you through Bevy Bar, Moku Kitchen and Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room. And featured along the way will be Maui Brewing Company, known for its variety of ales and lagers such as Big Swell IPA, Bikini Blond Lager and Coconut Hiwa Porter.
Kapena and Danny Carvalho perform live, and DJ Romeo Valentine follows.
The crawl kicks off at 5 p.m. and runs until each bar closes. An official after-party takes place at Bevy Bar until 2 a.m.
• Pa‘akai Marketplace, 5-9 p.m. Feb. 17 — Separate from SALT Bar Crawl, but concurrent with Kakaako festivities is Pa‘akai Marketplace. The monthly showcase shines a spotlight on Hawaiian culture and local practitioners and artisans. (See our Jan. 30 feature story on the event at metrohnl.com.)
Expect to see the likes of Brandon Souza of Mauka Man Brand Co., Kim and Tony Fallas of Beachwalk Gallery Hawaii, Jake Pacarro of Kane Clothing Co., Tanya Uyehara of Laha‘ole Designs and Jake Ho of TRADES Hawaii, as well as an array of new merchants.
• Blood drive, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 18 — Blood Bank of Hawaii puts on the SALT at Our Kakaako Community Blood Drive, with the Bloodmobile setting up shop along Auahi Street. This first-ever event aims to be less clinical and more educational and fun for the whole family. Successful donors will receive discounts and special offers at participating tenants. Visit bbh.org for more information.
Visit saltatkakaako.com for more information on any of these events.
