When comedian Tumua Tuinei was just starting out, he used to grab caffeine at Honolulu Coffee Co. before performing stand-up at the nearby Blue Note Hawaiʻi in Waikīkī.
Now, there is a drink on the cafe’s menu named in his honor, the Das’ How Cinnamon Roll Cold Brew, which launches this Saturday, Aug. 29, at all 11 Honolulu Coffee Co. locations across the state.
“I remember being nervous for my set and drinking more caffeine, making me more nervous,” the stand-up comedian, podcast host and actor told Aloha State Daily at a media preview event on Wednesday at Honolulu Coffee Co.’s flagship store in Moʻiliʻili. “And then it's crazy — now there's a drink on the menu with my name on it. It's such a full circle moment. And it's all thanks to comedy, too, because that's what gave me a profession.”
The Das’ How Cinnamon Roll Cold Brew drink includes a layer of cream cheese frosting cold foam and two mini cinnamon rolls, plus a dusting of cinnamon powder. A limited edition tote bag is also part of the collaboration.
The drink celebrates the Hawaiʻi comedian’s Das’ How tour, which has stops in at least 10 states, including Hawaiʻi, Alaska, California, Kentucky and New York, among other locations. As part of the collaboration, the comedian will also be hosting a meet-and-greet event for fans from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at Honolulu Coffee Co.’s Ala Moana cafe.
When asked about the funniest meet-and-greet moments of his career so far, Tuinei did not pause.
“Some people give me crazy gifts,” he said. “This one guy gave me a chain that said Haole Hammah. And then they even gave me a a bobblehead of when I played football at UH [with] my jersey number. They're very customized with the gifts.”
Tuinei recently wrapped up shows in Chicago and Dallas, and will now take the Das’ How tour to Maui on Saturday, Sept. 5, and Sunday, Sept. 6, as well as Kauaʻi on Saturday, Sept. 19. He will also perform on Oʻahu, taking the stage at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena on Saturday, Feb. 13, at the end of the tour.
Born and raised on Oʻahu, Tuinei played football at the Universty of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa before eventually making stand-up comedy his career. The comedian, with a combined social media audience of about one million, also has several acting credits and made appearances on Disney’s live action “Lilo & Stitch" and “NCIS: Hawaiʻi.”
Follow Tuinei on Instagram or catch his specials “Strictly Aloha” and “Talk Story: The Crowd Work Special” and “A Weekend with Tumua” on YouTube. For details about the Das’ How tour, go to tumuacomedy.com.
Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
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