By Staff Reports
(HONOLULU)—Paradise just got a little sweeter.
Candy Bar Hawaii, a collection of international and Hawaii-made candies and nuts and the only candy store of its kind in Waikiki, has opened on the Waikiki Beach Walk at 227 Lewers St.
Owner Dirck Noordhoff calls it “A sweet chapter in the heart of Waikiki. The candy bar of our dreams didn’t exist, so we set out to create it.”
The tiny gem of a store (just 320 square feet) beckons kids and adults with more than 400 types of highest-quality candy from Hawaii and all over the world. Many treats are displayed in an eye-poppingly colorful, backlit bank of bins custom designed for Candy Bar. Other mouthwatering choices are nestled on shelves and in canisters and vases of all shapes and sizes.
Restrained yet playful, the décor blends wit and sophistication with a splash of fresh Hawaiian fun. Candy Bar is where Willy Wonka might go on an island vacation: a sweet tooth’s dream destination come to life.
According to Noordhoff and his partners, Candy Bar Hawaii elevates the procuring of a sugar fix to new heights of interactive delight. Customers can mix and match from among all bulk candies in the store, for one flat per-pound price. An eclectic selection might include Wine Gums and pineapple or mango gummie bears, myriad flavors of taffies, nostalgic favorites like Squirrel Nut Zippers and Chick-O-Stick, international must-haves like black licorice and Violet Crumple, and Big Island-grown, hand-dipped chocolate covered macadamia nuts, all in one delicious bag. Mingling with the sweet scents, affable workers are generous with samples and friendly chat. Fresh popcorn creates bursts of buttery aroma, while on Saturday evenings the Candy Bar Bubble Gum Blowing Contest attracts happy contestants from all corners of the globe.
Here, the bulk candy concept ensures ultimate freshness, as candies are stored in bins and containers that are individually cleaned and replenished daily. Aside from the fun factor, Noordhoff says, “We provide an environmentally friendly way to satisfy sugar cravings, as there is absolutely no unnecessary packaging.”
Candy Bar Hawaii customers can spread their joy with an assortment of whimsical gift packages, t-shirts, and reusable hot/cold tote bags, all sporting different variations of Candy Bar’s signature island-sweet witticisms like “Ono Means Yum,” “Sweet Paradise” and “Sun. Sand. Sugar.”
Candy Bar Hawaii is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. It is located at 227 Lewers St., #127, Honolulu HI 96815. Telephone: (808) 798-9072. Online: www.candybarhawaii.com; Facebook: @candybarhawaii, Instagram: #candybarwaikiki.