Small business owners Ryan and Trang Hammond turned what could have been a sticky situation into one that served the community over the rainy weekend.
The husband-wife duo, who live in Hawaiʻi Kai and run Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream, which opened last May in Koko Marina Center, lost power for more than 24 hours starting Friday, Trang Hammond told Aloha State Daily.
“It was so unpredictable,” she said. “We closed early [Friday] because of the storm. We have a deep freezer in the back where we store and keep it cold, so even if the power goes out, it’s good for awhile, half a day at least.”
The pair worked “hard in the dark” to set up a generator on loan to them, rotating it between areas of concern, like from the back up to the front dipping cabinet, while moving tubs of ice cream around to help keep cool, she said. The next day, they even went out to find dry ice, but supply was running out.
By Saturday afternoon the Hammonds had to decide whether to keep holding out or give it all away. They landed on the latter.
“We didn't want our handmade product to go to waste,” Trang Hammond said. “And we thought the community might need something; everyone’s cooped up. Thereʻs nothing to do."
Within five minutes of making an announcement on Instagram, people started coming in.
Trang Hammond described the ice cream shop that evening as being lit up by cell phones with cars parked all around and people talking story.
“It was so amazing because they were paying whatever they wanted, even though they didn't have to,” she said. “Some people had family at home, so we just gave them the tub. Everybody got all the ice cream we needed to move. It was fun and it worked out.”
"We never had one regret with our decision," she noted.
“A few families told us that it was really nice to enjoy ice cream during this time because they had no electricity and everything was closed. The fact that they were able to take their kids out, enjoy ice cream and for free was such a fun treat that it made them forget at least for a moment how awful the whole situation was.
“Another person told us, they had no idea about the free ice cream situation and was just around the area and saw a line. They stood in line and came in for ice cream but got to experience what true Aloha Spirit meant,” she continued.
Since Sunday, Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream has been operating as usual, according to Trang Hammond.
“We have to work hard again and make all the product we lost,” she said. “Iʻm glad this happened at the time that it did because had it happened later on, it just would have been really hard to catch up.”
When asked what she learned from this experience, she said, “definitely having a generator."
"I learned the community is here for us. People wanted to come out to support us.”
The shop, known for its ice cream flights that allow customers to try flavors in mini waffle cones, is committed to community and fundraisers, she noted. The biz updates its flavors often, she says, adding, “We post our menu every day on IG highlights.”
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
