Hapa Hawaiian Salts
Meet Hapa Hawaiian Salts and its creator, Lisa Strand!
Specialty: Handcrafted cooking salts made with aloha
How long have you been in business?
Officially 4 years
How would you describe your business and brand?
Seasoning Salts, with added Hapa goodies - Hapa Li Hing Lemon Gummy Bears
How’d you get started and what sparked the idea for your business?
Started 21 years ago. I began experimenting with a salt recipe that a co- parent from preschool shared with me. I wanted to it be all fresh ingredients, and no sugar! I wanted it to be locally sourced, as much as possible and something everyone could use.
What do you wish you had known before you started your business?
How hard it was going to be!
What are you most proud of about your business?
The growth! The continued support we have received from all of our partner stores.
What do you love most about being a food entrepreneur?
Learning and growing. Sharing my passion and having others really enjoy it as well.
What’s one piece of advice you have for other food entrepreneurs?
If you have a dream, down let anyone steer you away. Follow your heart, and follow your gut! Don’t be afraid to ask questions, thats how we all learn, and grow.
What makes your business unique/special?
I think the Hapa name, and the story behind it. Our logo is the Naupaka flower, and it is a famous Hawaiian Legend. The flower itself signifies to me that wherever you are planted you can grow! It is resilient and grows all over, and continues to bloom.
What’s your best seller at the moment?
Hapa Hawaiian Salts is the Original, Old School flavor - which is a ginger, garlic slow roasted. But our Hapa Gummy’s have taken off and we cannot keep them in stock! They were a covid creation.
What made you choose Hana Kitchens and what do you like most about working here?
We were told about Hana Kitchens by Kainoa Quindicca as he was working there with Tui for the Kuki Man. Carolyn, Kainoa’s mom kept telling name about it and one day I decided we needed a bigger kitchen with more top to date equipment.
We have been very happy. The equipment is awesome and has really helped us be more efficient with our time and with our products’ consistency.
