Last month, crowds of guests lined up outside of Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha (HOPA) at ʻĀina Haina Shopping Center before closing on Feb. 24 after nearly 30 years, for a final taste of its all natural, locally sourced shave ice.
This past weekend, business partners Clayton Chang, known by customers as “Uncle Clay,” and his nephew Bronson Chang, served their last shave ice at a community celebration with family and friends in the space, which had already looked like it was starting to be cleaned out.
The good news was, they still had their shave ice machine up and running!
Attendees of HOPA’s community celebration talked story, reconnected with Uncle Clay and Bronson and even made new connections. Speakers were scheduled on the hour, artwork was on display to add color to the event, and live and recorded music filled the air.
And, of course, complimentary shave ice was available as a “thank you,” the pair said.
Old photos and newspaper articles still lined the storefront, along with the original Doe Fang sign, a framed Pure Aloha Oath and hand-written expressions of Pure Aloha on the walls, and a life-size cardboard cutout of Uncle Clay.
Hugs and “howzits” were exchanged and tears were shed. “I’m very comfortable showing my emotions,” Uncle Clay said on Saturday.
Bronson previously told Aloha State Daily, “It’s a time to honor and celebrate the legacy of HOPA with the people who made it special.”
When asked what he’ll miss most about serving this community, Bronson said, “The simple joy of human connection in a physical gathering space. A special place where no matter what might be going on in the big, busy, and often troubled world outside, you could enjoy a precious moment in time with loved ones or strangers turned into ‘ohana.”
Looking ahead, he said his focus will be on family, faith and finishing the One World ‘Ohana story project.
Both Bronson and Uncle Clay are excited for future “Pure Aloha possibilities.”
For more information on the closure and ways to #PureAlohaForever, visit uncleclays.com.
Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
