Nathan Murray, owner of Makua Banana Bread, remembers tinkering with his family’s banana bread recipe back in 2021.
“To our family, banana bread and Hawaiʻi go hand in hand,” he says. “Makua Banana Bread Co. was inspired by our family trips to Hawaiʻi (while growing up). Our favorite Island memories were the ones surrounded by family, exploring the islands, and always trying to find the best banana bread.”
He explains that he launched Makua Banana Bread Co. in pursuit of “baking the perfect banana bread loaf.”
“We are lucky to have grandparents and parents who have an entrepreneurial spirit and a love for baking,” he says. “Baking is a love language in our family, and food and baked goods are always at the center of our gatherings.
“‘Makua’ in the Hawaiian language means ‘parent,’ which has a strong connection to family,” he adds. “We named our business Makua Banana Bread in honor of the relatives who helped shape who we are today. Banana bread brings a lot of people joy, and often reminds them of loved ones and childhood memories.”
Before opening its Haleʻiwa location, the business sold its banana bread at farmers markets and events across Oʻahu with its VW bus, according to Murray. Even after the business expanded and opened its Haleʻiwa shack, it kept its VW bus as a fun photo opportunity for visiting customers.
The business currently offers three flavors of banana bread — classic, chocolate chip and mochi. The latter is the newest flavor, and is made with mochiko rice flour, resulting in a soft, chewy, mochi-style texture.
“Our moist and dense classic banana bread is always a favorite, and our chocolate chip banana bread builds on the classic flavor with the perfect amount of chocolate sweetness,” Murray says. “Our mochi banana bread is a unique twist on traditional banana bread; we love that it offers a different take on a familiar classic.”
Customers can also order banana bread online and have it shipped across the United States, according to Murray. Mainland orders are baked and shipped Monday through Wednesday with guaranteed two-day delivery from the ship date; Murray notes that the business offers free shipping on Mainland orders of $100 or more.
“We always bake and ship on the same day; (our product is) always fresh, never frozen,” he says. “Hawaiian Island orders are shipped Monday through Friday with next-day delivery from the ship date.”
Orders for the business’s mochi banana bread only open once a month, since the product is a more limited item.
“People love when we release it for online shipping; it’s one of our best sellers,” Murray says. “Because it’s a small-batch item, we release it during a short window and then close orders until the next month.”
Orders for mochi banana bread are open through March 23 at 11:59 p.m., and everything will be baked fresh and shipped on March 24.
Murray says that the community has been one of the factors that makes the business special, and that they love being part of individuals’ North Shore experience.
“For many customers, stopping by for banana bread has become a tradition when they visit Hawaiʻi,” he says. “It has been incredible to see our banana bread travel to homes across the country, and we are grateful for everyone who supports us both locally and from afar. We want to use our banana bread to help other families and friends create similar fun and adventurous memories together. At the end of the day, what’s more important than spending time with your family and loved ones?”
CONTACT
Makua Banana Bread
62-620 Kamehameha Hwy Unit G, Haleʻiwa
makuabananabread.com
Instagram: @makuabananabread
Open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Haleʻiwa
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
