Anna Marie Yi, who co-owns His Fellow Baker with her husband, John, has always enjoyed baking for others. She remembers that, in high school, one of her favorite ways to celebrate her friends was by baking cupcakes for their birthdays.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, after being laid off from her job as a personal trainer, Yi found herself, like many others, baking again. What started as a creative outlet became something “much more meaningful” after Yi decided to join the Bake a Blessing ministry while attending Inspire Church.
“Serving alongside others and using baking to bless people made me realize that God was calling me in a new direction,” she says. “I felt a strong tug to transition from my career as a personal trainer to building a business with God at the center. Rather than relying solely on my own abilities, I wanted to pursue a career that required me to trust fully in His provision, guidance and faithfulness.”
Together with her husband, John, Yi officially launched His Fellow Baker this past January. She says the business’s mission stems beyond making desserts; rather, it’s to create handcrafted treats that bring people together while sharing God’s love.
“Everything we make is baked with His love and aloha,” she says.
Yi recalls how coming up with a business name was initially a stressful process, but ‘His Fellow Baker’ came from a Bible verse.
“After exhausting myself trying to come up with a name, I suddenly remembered the passage I had just read — 1 Corinthians 3:9, ‘For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building,’” she says. “From the beginning, I knew I wanted God to be at the center of my business, but I wasn’t sure how to reflect that in the name.
“I had been so overwhelmed and frustrated, yet the answer had been sitting right in front of me,” she adds. “It was one of those moments where I knew God was reminding me that this business wasn’t ultimately mine — it was His.”
His Fellow Baker’s heart-shaped cookies are its signature dessert, according to Yi, who says they are a tangible reminder of the biblical principle that “it is more blessed to give than receive.”
“Our heart-shaped cookies are a reflection of who we are,” Yi says. “Hearts have always been my favorite shape — they’re beautiful, thoughtful and perfect for giving as a gift. Whether someone is celebrating a birthday, thanking a friend or simply brightening someone’s day, I hope our desserts become a small way for people to show love and kindness to one another.”
Each batch of cookie dough is chilled for 48 hours and then frozen for an additional 24 hours before baking, according to Yi, who says the baking process makes her cookies unique.
“This allows the flour to fully hydrate and gives the flavors time to deepen and develop, resulting in a richer flavor, better texture, and a cookie that’s worth the wait,” she explains.
His Fellow Baker offers a monthly cookie menu with rotating flavors, so customers always have something new to look forward to. While the business’s seasonal flavors change, its Oreo milk chocolate ($5) and Biscoff white chocolate ($5) cookies — which have become customer favorites — will always be on the menu, according to Yi. The Oreo milk chocolate features a chocolate cookie baked with Oreo cookies and milk chocolate chips; meanwhile, the Biscoff white chocolate cookie is packed with Lotus Biscoff cookies and white chocolate chips.
This month’s cookie flavors include mocha pretzel — a coffee-infused cookie filled with crunchy pretzels and semi-sweet chocolate chips, and finished with flaky sea salt — choco mochi crunch, which boasts a sweet-and-salty flavor; and birthday bash.
“Our favorite is Funfetti Marshmallow, so we created something similar,” Yi says. “It’s made with Golden Oreos, white chocolate chips and colorful sprinkles, and it’s finished with a white chocolate drizzle for a fun birthday celebration in every bite.”
The business usually offers samples of its featured flavors, according to Yi, who says being a family business is important to her.
“My husband, John, has been my biggest supporter from day one,” she says. “You’ll find him by my side at every farmers market, helping customers, setting up our booth, and enthusiastically handing out samples. I always joke that he’s the best sample giver out there.”
The business’s homemade hopia ($4 each) is another customer favorite, according to Yi. She explains that hopia is a popular Filipino pastry that features a flaky crust and savory or sweet filling.
The business’s ube hopia is its bestseller. Other flavors include guava, monggo (mung bean), mango and green onion.
“The green onion is a traditional sweet-and-savory Filipino favorite that’s especially close to my heart because it’s my mom’s recipe,” Yi says. “I’d love to see this become our number one seller one day because it’s the recipe that started it all. The guava is made with guava jam and guava powder for a bright, tropical flavor.”
Customers can buy cookies a la carte, or get six cookies for $25; they can also mix and match cookies with cupcakes and brownies, if they’re available that day.
Customers can find His Fellow Baker at Ho‘opili Markets throughout the month (first Monday, second Friday night, and third Thursday of the month). The biz also collaborates with The Sweet Stand in Ho‘opili for select pop-ups and events; its products are also available at Keiki2Keiki.
The biz also accepts pre-orders via hotplate.com; follow the biz on Instagram for updates and to see its schedule.
While they’re grateful for the opportunities they’ve had so far to serve their local community, Yi says they’re just getting started. She hopes to expand the business to participate in more farmers markets, community events and partnerships across Oʻahu.
“His Fellow Baker has always been about more than desserts; our greatest hope is to point people to Christ,” she says. “Every farmers market has become more than a place to sell cookies and hopia — it’s become an opportunity to meet incredible people, hear their stories, pray with them and encourage one another.
“Whether someone visits our booth for a cookie, hopia or conversation, we hope they leave feeling loved, encouraged and reminded that God cares deeply for them,” she adds. “If our business can brighten someone’s day while reflecting Christ’s love, then we’re fulfilling the purpose God placed on our hearts.”
As she reflects on her business’s journey thus far, Yi says that starting His Fellow Baker has been “one of the biggest steps of faith” she has ever taken.
“There have been moments of uncertainty, but I’ve seen God provide in ways I never expected,” she says. “If someone reading this has a dream that God has placed on their heart, my encouragement is to trust Him enough to take the first step. You don’t have to have everything figured out — just be faithful with what He’s given you, and let Him take care of the growth.”
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
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