Coming up with a name for Miya Bowls — an acai bowl shop that opened recently in Wahiawā, next to Teapresso — came naturally for business owner Keoni Ahlo. The acai bowl shop took the place of Ahlo’s former gelato shop, called Mia Bella.
The gelato shop opened about five years ago, according to Ahlo, who says it was named after his dog, Miya, who died in 2020.
“I used ‘Mia’ (for the gelato shop) because it was Italian,” Ahlo explains. “When we changed (concepts), I said, ‘Let’s go back to the original name that we wanted, which was Miya. It’s still perpetuating her legacy, as far as our family member that was with us for 16 years.”
Ahlo decided to change his business from a gelato shop to an acai bowl cafe once the gelato machine broke down.
“We always wanted to do it (have acai), but we never felt like there was a good time to do it,” he says. “When the machine broke, it was time to re-invent. I pre-packed the gelato that was left, and we sold all that pre-packed. Then I started designing the front of the store.”
The biz is known for its build-your-own acai bowls. Miya Bowls’ acai is unique because it’s not blended, according to Ahlo.
“We’re getting a more concentrated fruit base, which to me, has more flavor,” he says. “Because we’re not blending it, it doesn’t melt as fast. The texture and mouthfeel is more enjoyable.
“Acai is a subjective thing because every shop does theirs differently,” he adds.
Customers can choose from bases like acai, Blue Majik, coconut, guava, lilikoʻi, mango, pitaya, ube and vanilla soy. The Blue Majik has quickly become a customer favorite, according to Ahlo.
“It’s pineapple and coconut,” he says. “The blue is not food coloring; it’s blue spirulina.”
Choose from small ($12.99) or large ($14.99) bowl sizes. Customers can get up to three flavors per bowl, according to Ahlo.
Fruit toppings include strawberries, bananas, pineapple and blueberries. Some toppings — like honey, granola, shredded coconut, chia seeds and peanut butter — are free. Others, like cacao nibs, toasted coconut and almond butter, have an additional charge.
Miya Bowls is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free customer parking is available.
“I just love that everybody is so happy when they come in,” Ahlo says. “They’re so excited to get acai bowls. It’s just a fun feeling to do something for the community that they appreciate and enjoy. I’m always trying to bring stuff into Wahiawā that the community doesn’t have.”
CONTACT
Miya Bowls
834 Kilani Ave. Ste. 103, Wahiawā
Instagram: @miyabowls
Open daily, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
