Hula Girls Sourdough Stand didn’t start solely based on a love of sourdough. It began as a homeschool project, according to owner Michelle Ellis — one that she started with her daughters.
“As a homeschooling mom, I wanted to give my girls a hands-on way to learn about creativity, responsibility, customer service, money and building something from the ground up,” she says. “What started with fresh sourdough has grown into a little community stand where we get to meet neighbors, share homemade food, and create something special together.”
Hula Girls Sourdough Stand officially opened this past summer, and it's usually open at 10 a.m. on the first Sunday each month.
“The name ‘Hula Girls’ comes from our location on Hula Hula Place in Hauʻula,” Ellis says. “It also feels especially fitting because the business is inspired by and built alongside my three daughters, and we support other women-owned businesses in the community.”
The biz offers sweet and savory sourdough loaves — its Hawaiian sea salt loaf ($18) and cinnamon swell loave ($20) are crowd favorites — along with mini banana breeze breads ($10), sea salt sourdough cookies ($4 each or three for $10), and iced coffees ($6).
Ellis has been making sourdough for the past two-and-a-half years.
“I’ve always loved it (baking) — sourdough especially,” she says. “When we moved here, I realized a lot of people here had never tried fresh sourdough because it’s so hard to make in this climate and humidity. The stand really took off because people loved having fresh bread.”
The cinnamon swell loaf is made with organic sugar, cinnamon and organic grass-fed butter. Ellis notes that the traditional Hawaiian sea salt loaf is a crowd favorite “since it goes with just about everything.”
The cookies are known for their chewy texture and are finished with sea salt to achieve a salty-sweet flavor, according to Ellis.
The business’s iced coffee features flavored ice; customers can choose from vanilla, caramel, mocha and macadamia nut.
“We also love creating limited seasonal specials, including maple-glazed pumpkin spice sourdough and s’mores sourdough cookies,” Ellis says. “Hula Girls Sourdough Stand is more than a bread stand — we are rooted in community, learning and connection. We make everything in small batches and put a lot of care into each menu item, from the ingredients to the presentation.”
While the stand is usually open on the first Sunday of each month, because of Halloween, the stand will be open on Nov. 8 (instead of Nov. 1) from 10 a.m. until sold out.
“Everything is made in small batches,” Ellis says. “Between Halloween and the kids, I couldn’t get everything prepped the way I wanted.”
She notes that there’s been a lot of recent interest in the sourdough stand, and customers can direct message the business on Instagram to pre-order.
“We are so grateful for everyone who has stopped by, shared our posts, placed an order, or simply cheered us on,” she adds. “Building this with my daughters has been such a special experience, and we hope people feel that joy when they visit our stand. Our goal is simple — good bread, good vibes, and a little community connection in Hauʻula. We love creating a welcoming space with good bread, cold drinks, sweet treats and a little island joy.”
CONTACT
Hula Girls Sourdough Stand
Hula Hula Place, Hauʻula
Instagram: @hulagirlssourdough
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
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