Da Local Scoop

For nearly a century, three generations of Nobrigas have made it their business to provide our just desserts.

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Roselani Hawaiian ice creamPerhaps the most special of all the specialty seasonals was Roselani’s Aloha Cherry Truffle, developed by Cathy after a victorious bout with breast cancer. The luscious pink cherry concoction with chocolate truffles became the basis of a grassroots awareness and education campaign: A.C.T. Sweet Now to Beat Breast Cancer! Unveiled in October 2007, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it was sold only in October and November. Aloha Cherry Truffle quickly became a local favorite and an effective fundraiser. Over the five-year campaign, Maui Soda & Ice Works donated thousands of dollars from A.C.T. sales to a special fund administered by the Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation to educate women about breast cancer and to provide mammograms for uninsured and underinsured women.

Community involvement has been a cornerstone of the Nobrigas’ business success. Both the company and the family have received numerous accolades for their long-standing record of community service, including the Small Business Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Aloha Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives. The company’s philosophy, handed down from Grandpa Manuel, states, “Family comes first; business and community service follow closely.”

Indeed, all three components are closely woven. Maui Soda & Ice Works employs seventy-six people, many of whom have worked for the company for over twenty years. “We’re all one big family,” says Cathy, who oversees ten employees in the ice cream production division. The relatively small plant churned out 237,000 gallons in the last twelve months, generating $2.6 million in gross revenues. While haupia is the retail favorite, vanilla and macadamia nut are the top sellers for some 140 restaurants, resorts, and scooping parlors, from Kapalua’s Pineapple Grill to Tutu’s Snack Shop at Hana Bay.

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