New matcha business Ohana Hui — which opened in August — was born out of a desire to "create a space centered on gathering over something as simple as a good cup of matcha," according to owner David Song. He wanted the business's name to reflect the value of meaningful connections.
“After years of working in the food and beverage industry, we realized that matcha was the product we consistently loved creating and sharing,” he says. “For us, matcha represents ritual, calm and connection, which ties closely to our core value of family. Across cultures, food is a powerful connector, and we wanted to build a brand that embraces that spirit.”
Upon opening, Ohana Hui did various pop-up events like Taste of Aloha in Kakaʻako.
Now, customers can find Ohana Hui at its new permanent location in Kakaʻako — specifically, in the HI Cravings’ trailer on Queen Street. (The matcha business's sign isn't up yet, though, so it still looks like the HI Cravings' trailer.)
“I was operating out of a van in Kakaʻako when, one day, HI Cravings reached out and asked if we could talk,” Song recalls. “The owner had taken an interest in what we were doing after her friend mentioned our concept to her. She asked if I would be interested in taking over the space … and that’s how we ended up here.”
Ohana Hui features Uji matcha (which comes from the Uji region in Kyoto, Japan) in its drinks; there's 5 grams of organic ceremonial matcha in each beverage. Right now, the café’s trailer menu features four matcha lattes — matcha ube ($8), matcha strawberry ($8), matcha banana ($9) and matcha Einspänner ($9). Song says there are eight other drinks on the business’s menu, but these four are customer favorites.
The matcha Einspänner ($9) is the café’s most popular drink, according to Song. It features vanilla sweet cream and thick Einspänner sweet cream. He explains that the original Einspänner is from Vienna, Austria and dates back to the 19th century.
“Its name literally translates to ‘one-horse carriage,’” Song says. “Back then, carriage drivers struggled to keep their coffee hot and inside the cup while steering their horses. To solve this, they added a thick layer of cream, which helped insulate the drink and prevent spills. Over time, the Einspänner evolved into a classic Viennese specialty topped with rich cream.”
Ohana Hui’s version puts a modern twist on the drink by replacing the coffee (or espresso) with premium matcha.
“It’s our take on a historic drink, reimagined for matcha lovers,” Song says.
The matcha banana latte ($9) includes banana sweet foam and a macadamia nut cookie crumble. Meanwhile, the matcha strawberry latte ($8) is especially photogenic with its strawberry sweet foam, strawberry shortcake bits and dried strawberries on top.
The vibrant matcha ube latte features ube sweet foam and the customer’s choice of coconut shavings or Oreo crumbles.
Song says that customers can look forward to updates from the café — “We have a lot of new drinks coming out (next year)” — and stay tuned by following the biz on Instagram (@ohanahui808cafe).
“Everything I do, whether in life or through Ohana Hui Café, is guided by the family,” Song says. “Food has taught me how to connect, express love, and bring people together, and that’s what I hope anyone who comes here experiences — a sense of belonging, warmth and togetherness.”
CONTACT
Ohana Hui
747 Queen St., Honolulu
Instagram: @ohanahui808cafe
Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Sundays
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
