Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 11, 1 November 2016 — Oʻahu baker gets a taste of sweet success [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Oʻahu baker gets a taste of sweet success

ByTreenaShapiro Whfle studying to be a pastry chef in Normandy, France, Sarah Kolokea Parker was taught her desserts should look as good as they taste and taste as good as they look. After returning to Elawai'i, Parker launched a baking business called Little Bites of Fleaven, offering

upscale loeal and French desserts that "look beautiful and taste like heaven." At a recent Wednesday night farmer's market at Blaisdell Center, examples of Parker's edible art included brownies, fruit-flavored macarons, chocolate-drizzled maeroons and bite-sized tarts. For 2lA years, Parker ran Little Bites of Fleaven as a side business while she worked other jobs, including teaching foreign language at Punahou and working as a restaurant pastry chef while tutoring on the side. "It was kind of crazy but I was trying to make ends meet," she said. The jobs paid the bills but kept her too busy to concentrate on her business. "I noticed Little Bites of Fleaven was moving forward very slowly," she said. "I knew I had to focus 100 percent - take that leap of faith and stop everything else - or it would never get off the ground." Though terrified, Parker made Little Bites of Fleaven her sole source of ineome starting May 20 1 6 . In addition to the weekly farmer's market, she bakes wedding cakes

and other custom orders, and also offers private pastry classes. "I defi- ' nitely see for the first time in my life, I ean make a living off a business," she said. "Little by little it's growing and becoming more successful." A Mālama Loan from the Office of Llawaiian Affairs helped Parker overcome her fear, giving her the capital she needed for mixers, supplies, ingredients, pots, pans and packaging. Fler father, a '63 Kame-

hameha graduate, recommended the program, whieh includes lowinterest loans that help Native Flawaiians entrepreneurs start and support their own businesses. The OLIA loan program also includes follow-up support for its borrowers, such as networking events and professional development. "There's a relationship and they want you to thrive," noted Parker, who interned at OLIA in 2005. "Everyone is super niee, it's super easy and everyone's been extremely helpful and welcoming from the start." Parker's goal is to open her own bakeshop but for now you ean feast your eyes on her beautiful pastries at littlebitesofheaven.net. The webpage also includes information about private orders and classes, along with contact details. Parker ean also be reached at 354-1754 or lbhlittle bitesofheaven @ gmail.com. More information about OFlA's Mālama Loans for businesses, education and home improvements is available at www.oha.org/ malamaloan. ■

I Little Bites of I Heaven offers I upscale French and I loeal pastries at the I Wednesday farmI er's market at BlaisI dell Center, as well I as custom orders I and private lessons. I - Photo : īwena | Shapiro