Local Popsicles, Sauces Launched on Kickstarter
Kathy Sills, the culinary artist behind the former Mission Houses Museum Cafe & Tea Parlor, says the Aloha Ice Cream Tricycle came to her in a dream. And she, her custom-made tricycle, and her handmade popsicles have become a fixture around town ever since her debut at "Eat the Street" last July.
She even became a civic crusader after Honolulu police cited her for violating a 1979 street vending law, helping to lead the charge to pass Bill 59, giving more breathing room to her and the many food trucks on Honolulu streets.
The momentum helped propel her popsicle business forward, and boosted demand for her cool treats. So now she has launched a Kickstarter campaign to take things to the next level.
"I need to purchase commercial level equipment that will help me to produce Aloha Pops more efficiently," she writes. "I also need to purchase another custom tricycle so I can deliver Aloha Pops all over the island, and need packaging to help with our branding."
She's hoping to raise a modest $7,500, and is offering rewards for backers ranging from an Aloha Pop ($2.00) to a custom Aloha Pop flavor and design ($2,500). With less than three weeks to go, 20 backers have raised about a grand. To back Aloha Pops, visit the Kickstarter page:
Meanwhile, another delicious local project popped up on Kickstarter last week. Honolulu actor and model Christopher Moon, named "Mr. Hawaii 2013" at the "Hawaii's Most Beautiful Man" competition earlier this year, is now trying to turn a family recipe into a business.
"I'm releasing my family kal-bi sauce that many believe is the best they've ever tried," he writes. "It comes in both 'traditional' and 'hot.'"
His goal is to raise $25,000 by the end of the year to go toward "bottling, labels, ingredients, and all the costs associated with this type of business." Pledge awards include a 16 oz. bottle of Moon's Sauce for $10, a 100 percent organic T-shirt for $30, a six pack of 16 oz. bottles for $75, and a six pack of 32 oz. bottles for $130.
To learn more about Moon's Korean BBQ Sauces, and to watch a brief promotional video, visit the Kickstarter page: