Hi my name is Gloria Nahalea. My husband Bill and I are launching a Hawaiian food trailer and outdoor dining location in Port Orchard, Washington.
After years of amazing experiences leading Pacific Islander education & events, we decided to develop a Hawaiian cooking show in 2019. Shortly after, the location for that show became the Pacific Ohana Cafe in Port Orchard. The Kitsap county community greeted us with love and support during our 1st year. The 2020 covid shutdown was a great challenge for everyone including us. We had to cut staff and run the cafe with just me and my husband. However, our community was really there for us. They consistently ordered takeout, delivery, and kept our spirits up. Because of them our dream was kept alive. When the farmers market reopened later that year we were able to pickup steam. We added back staff, served great food, and shared our Aloha with the community. We thought we we’re getting back to normal.
On October 17, 2020, our whole world changed. My support staff and husband, Bill, suffered a massive stroke, leaving him with medical disabilities. We closed the cafe January 2021. Many of our customers had requested us to reopen. They missed our food and community. We considered reopening. However, with the cost of investing in a new location, the cost of the covid lockdown, two years of unemployment, and Bill in rehabilitation, the task seemed insurmountable. I was not ready to retire. My husband was forced to due to his disability, and looming recovery ahead.
By January 2023 Bill’s health had improved greatly. I was able reconsider the idea of a local food business. Much to our delight, we had been repeatedly asked to consider opening up another brick and mortar café/restaurant. Around this time a new food truck location was offered to us. Possibility grew in our minds and hope in our hearts. We decided to follow that inspiration and look for available food trucks and trailers. Within only a few months we found, purchased, and had delivered our very own food trailer!! “We’re in it now we said!”
Our idea to run a fundraising campaign came from our friends and consultants at Think Local. They had previously run a successful campaign with their own restaurant in Port Orchard. We did not have a great deal of funds to start this project. So we saw this Indiegogo fundraiser as a way to raise money for vital parts of the business. We also wanted to connect with our community and let them know we were coming back soon. With your and other contributors help this money will get business off the ground fast and successfully.
The $20,000 will be used for a variety of key pieces of equipment and marketing that will greatly impact our brand, food service, and customer experience. We will use the money raised to paint our food trailer, build our outdoor seating area, buy our slushy machine, and add pieces of equipment to our food trailer!
Our perks are designed to give you bang for your bucks! Our Aloha club ($50) features a swag pack, and plate of food. The Ohana Club ($100) has the swag pack with 2 plates of food and invitation to our private luau celebration following the fundraiser. Theres the Family ($200) pack and Small Group /company ($250) packs that are similar but tailored for families and groups. The Ohana Founders pack level ($300) gets your name on the trailer as well as a lifetime 10% off card! The Ohana Family founders ($500) includes your family name on the trailer but is designed for 1 or 2 families to partner together to contribute. The Ohana Business founders ($1000) is designed for a company or organization to get their name on our trailer as well as have their own private party hosted by us, Up to 12 people! Finally the Backyard Luau party ($2000) gets all of the above as well as an all inclusive backyard luau party (up to 30 people) hosted at the new Pacific Ohana location.
When our 1st café was opened in Port Orchard, we had gatherings of music and dance, and jam sessions that our customers participated with and enjoyed with their entire families. Campaign contributors should know supporting us will contribute to our local community as a whole. Of course we will provide amazing food and service, but it’s our grounding in community and culture that are the true gifts we’re trying to bring to people here in Kitsap. We love our people, we love our heritage, and we love sharing Aloha.
Please consider contributing to our campaign! Even if you can’t afford any of our donation levels at this time, you can help fuel our campaign by sharing on social media or telling your friends and family! Thank you so much from all of us at Pacific Ohana! Aloha:)
