Hinamatsuri, or Girls’ Day, is coming up on March 3. This annual holiday is dedicated to girls, as their families pray for their bright futures ahead. Japanese families often decorate their homes with hina dolls and celebrate with special foods like colorful arare, chirashizushi (layers of rice and sashimi) and multi-layered mochi.
If you’re looking to get treats for the girls in your life, check out the following:
Big Island Candies: Sakura-themed treats
Big Island Candies is featuring Sakura cubes ($13.50) filled with Sakura (cherry blossom)-shaped macadamia nut shortbreads for Girls’ Day. The shortbreads come plain or with a creamy white coating and are topped with pink sugar.
Big Island Candies’ store at Ala Moana Center also has a cherry blossom box ($15.25) that includes four shortbreads, two brownies and three mints.
These treats are available in store while supplies last.
Big Island Candies, Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd. Ste. 1230, Honolulu, 808-946-9213, bigislandcandies.com
Choco le‘a: Chocolate bento boxes and assorted treats
The Mānoa-based biz is launching a new chocolate bento box ($22.49) that includes sweet senbei sandwiches and truffles of assorted flavors (dried natto, strawberry matcha, azuki kinako and fresh mochi). Other available treats include sweet senbei sandwiches ($3.99 each) — Japanese tea cookies filled with white chocolate rice krispie mix and topped with a white chocolate drizzle and red, white and pink sprinkles — and a March specials bundle ($52.49). The latter includes a chocolate bento box, dark chocolate melts and an umeshu truffle.
Choco le‘a, Mānoa Square, 2909 Lowrey Ave., Honolulu, 808-371-2234, chocolea.com
Fujiya Hawaiʻi: Girls’ Day platters and a special dessert box collab
Fujiya Hawaiʻi’s limited-edition Girls’ Day platters are available for online preorders. Choose from an eight-piece platter ($24.95) — which features a mix of mochi and manju — and a 20-piece platter ($60). Girls’ Day items are available for pickup from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 2 and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 3.
The biz is also collaborating with A Cake Life to feature a special dessert box ($15). It includes A Cake Life’s popular Sakura sugar cookie and Fujiya’s chichi dango and red bean mochi. Preorder online (via Fujiya Hawaii’s website) or walk-ins are also accepted.
Fujiya Hawaiʻi, 930 Hau‘oli St., Honolulu, 808-845-2921, fujiyahawaii.com
Kulu kulu cake: Girls’ Day strawberry shortcake
kulu kulu cake is offering a special strawberry shortcake for Girls’ Day. The cake is available in small ($44.50) and large ($58.50) sizes and is available at kulu kulu cake stores between March 1 to 3. Preorder in-store or online.
Kulu kulu cake, various locations, Instagram: @kulukulucake
La Palme D’Or Patisserie: Assorted Girls’ Day cakes
These decorated Girls’ Day cakes are available now until March 3 at the Ala Moana-based dessert shop. Choose from strawberry shortcakes ($51 for 6-inch cakes, $63 for 7-inch cakes), strawberry roll cakes ($40) and chocolate-covered strawberries ($5.50 each).
La Palme D’Or Patisserie, Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, 808-941-6161, lapalmedorhawaii.com
Olive Branch Hawaiʻi: Sakura sweet box
Online business Olive Branch Hawaiʻi is featuring a Sakura sweet box ($15) and assorted sweet sets ($3). The Sakura sweet box includes chocolate-dipped pretzels, chocolate-dipped Oreos, chocolate-dipped Rice Krispies and assorted Japanese candies. The assorted sweets sets ($3) allow customers to mix and match any two chocolate-dipped pretzels, Oreos or Rice Krispies (available in dark, white and matcha chocolate).
Order via Instagram or olivebranchhawaii.com.
Olive Branch Hawaiʻi, olivebranchhawaii.com, Instagram: @olivebranchhawaii
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
