Talk Story with an Advertiser: Kokoiki Brands LLC at Hawi.Center
Kokoiki Brands LLC. is now the umbrella for Hawaii Cigar & Ukulele, Mother’s Cigar & Hemp Lounge, Hawi Nice Day Hemp Co., and CBD.CENTER, all located in the historic Kohala Trade Center in the center of Hawi, next to one of the island’s finest restaurants, Bamboo. Owner/manager Richard Bodien shares, “Creating Kokoiki Brands LLC enabled us to obtain our liquor license. When we saw Kuleana Rum being born, I knew we had to sell it. It is grown in Hawi, and distilled in Kawaihae. That is as local as you can get. And we specialize in local: Hawaiian cigars, liquor, ‘ukulele, music, hemp, and collectibles. You can enjoy local eating and shopping, then relax and enjoy smoking outdoors under our portico.”
How did these four businesses come about? Richard Bodien started his first shop, Hawi Gallery, in 2011. This became a destination for fine art, ‘ukulele, authentic Hawaiiana, and real vintage aloha shirts. In 2018, Richard bought Mother’s Antiques and Fine Cigars, a local landmark for over 20 years, from Jon Adams, a cigar aficionado who opened the shop to feed his appetite for fine tobacco in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. By combining these businesses in a beautiful historic location, he was able to provide an enhanced experience for visitors.
Richard reflects, “My Hawaiian friends have been my greatest inspiration and guidance. They led me to a knowledge and understanding of the history and culture of Hawai‘i, its music, and the practice of aloha. My greatest mentor was the late Kim “Ki‘i” Nakamura, a Hawaiian cultural practitioner and kumu la‘au, from whom I learned of herbal medicine and the use of cannabis as medicine, and which has led to where we are today.”
Hawaii Cigar & ‘Ukulele
“This is the world’s only cigar and ‘ukulele shop,” Richard says, “Our trained staff is happy to help you make a selection from our well-curated collection of premium hand-rolled cigars. The featured brands are Hawaii-grown from Kauai Cigar Company and the house brand, Mother’s custom-blended, hand-rolled cigars from Nicaragua, both of which make great gifts. We recently added locally grown and distilled Kuleana Rum to the mix, along with other Hawaiian brands and a small but premium selection of cigar-friendly liquors.”
Their other specialty is ‘ukulele. You will find all kinds, from early vintage (1906) to inexpensive beginner ‘ukes and the latest masterpieces by local luthiers David Gomes and Mark Evans. Take advantage of a free ‘ukulele lesson to help you get started and make the right choice. Families and groups are invited.
Mother’s Cigar & Hemp Lounge
Be sure to take time for a very relaxed smoke at Mother’s Cigar & Hemp Lounge, the only cigar lounge on Hawai‘i Island. For cigar lovers it is, as one customer wrote, “One of the greatest pleasures you will enjoy in Hawai‘i.”
Hawi Nice Day Hemp Co.
If you don’t smoke cigars, you might consider relaxing with a pre-rolled cone of organic, CBD-rich hemp. To meet demand, the owners began packaging hemp flower for people to roll their own, and then began a business to produce pre-rolled cones, which are distributed in glass test tubes with cork stoppers.
Richard says, “We treat cannabis as nature intended. Hemp has been a part of human nutrition, medicine, and spirituality for thousands of years. We package and market the finest hemp flower available for distribution throughout the US. You will be amazed. You won’t get ‘highʻ, but you sure will feel good.” Smoke one at Mother’s Cigar & Hemp Lounge. It’s the only public cigar lounge on the island.
CBD.CENTER
CBD.CENTER is the first and still the best CBD shop on the island. At CBD.CENTER the products have been chosen for their purity, effectiveness, and value. The trained staff, including Dr. Randall Carpio, N.D., are happy to help you learn more about natural medicine and make the right choices for your needs and budget. You can try samples, and they ship to all 50 states, including the islands of Hawai‘i. ❖
Kokoiki Brands at Hawi.Center
55-3419 Akoni Pule Highway, Hawi 96719
808.889.1282
hawi.center
hawaiicigarandukulele.com
motherscigars.com
hawinicedayhemp.com
cbd.center
