It started with MaCallan.
When we chose to homeschool MaCallan, we wanted him to think for himself and be true to who he is.
Turns out, he expected the same from us.
One day he looked at Gabe and said:
“Dad, you always talked about starting a food truck or restaurant.”
Gabe’s response:
“Okay, fucker.”
Our son reminded us to live what we were teaching him—
to be true to ourselves.
That became HAPAHAOLES.
FLAVORS WE GREW UP WITH.
Born and raised on Maui, food was always a mixture of cultures, flavors and people.
Gabe took the foods and flavors we grew up with and started putting his own spin on them—in a taco shell.
Huli Huli Chicken. Bulgogi Beef. Kalua Pig. And whatever else he could dream up.
Flavors we grew up with in a taco shell.
THEN WE TOOK IT ON THE ROAD
What started with Taco Tuesdays grew into festivals, car shows, schools, weddings, private parties and major events.
Eventually, we took the truck beyond Las Vegas—to San Diego, Irvine, Monterey and Arizona.
People came back again and again. Some found us at lunch and returned for dinner. Some still message us hoping we're coming back.
That's when we understood HAPAHAOLES had become more than a food truck.
THE PEOPLE ARE HAPAHAOLES.
HAPAHAOLES has never just been the three of us.
Friends became crew. Crew became family. Customers became friends.
People have jumped into the truck when we needed help.
They've traveled with us, worked long festival weekends, washed endless dishes, cooked beside us and helped us become better at what we do.
Everyone who has helped build this is part of the story.
WHY WE'RE STILL HERE.
Because people would be traumatized if we quit. And we're not about causing trauma.
People love the food. But they also show up because of how we make them feel.
We love people. We feed everyone the same way. We accommodate when we can.
We serve food we're proud of, take care of people, laugh at ourselves, and keep figuring it out.
We're not trying to manufacture a brand.
We're just being ourselves.
Turns out, that's what we were trying to teach MaCallan all along.
Be true to yourself so you can be true to others.
TACOS & ALOHA