FEATURE TENANT: PUDGEE PANDA

About Pudgee Panda

Inspired by our beautiful Island of Hawaii, Pudge Panda was created as a trendy gathering place for kama'aina and visitors alike, to enjoy our deliciously cold treats. We took both the familiar and exotic flavors from across the Asian Pacific Rim and reimagined them to satisfy the most discerning of taste-buds. Experience the yummy Ube Swirl or the tantalizing Winter Melon Boba Milk Tea in a modern stylish take of "the olde ice cream shoppe", complete with a themed graffiti wall, designed by world renowned Honolulu artist, Jeff Gress. Just as Hawaii is unforgettable in its rich native culture, our vision for Pudgee Panda is to bring people together with its own ohand and share our aloha with the world, one swirl at a time.

About The Owner

Aloha! I'm Kurt Sullivan (a.k.a. "Sull"), the owner of the Pudgee Panda LLC brand. I'm a funny, fun loving type of guy who cherishes family, friends and wholeheartedly believes that the future for our children will be bright. I didn't start out with dreams of one day opening a soft serve ice cream shop, it just kind of happened by chance. My daughter loves ice cream, so one day, at a school event, my hand decided to surprise the classroom by treating them all to her favorite frozen dessert. It was then, watching the unadulterated joy on the faces of the kids that the idea for opening a shop was born.Around the same time, I happened to rescue a puppy (volcano displace-ment) from the Humane Society in Kedau. He was black and white mix and ate anything he could lay eyes on, so I named him "Ash the Trash Panda". He was as cute as a button, whimsical, playful and due to his consumption habits, a little on the round side. He was such an adorable, cuddly little thing that the name Pudgee Panda just sprang to mind for the shop. I do not wish for Pudgee Panda to be just an ice cream shop, I wish it to be a place for creating memories; a place to gather, celebrate, talk, laugh and relish friendships; a place that breathes the lifeforce of Hawaii. My dream is that, one day, the Pudge Panda brand and what it stands for will be found on every continent in the world. That dream has its roots grounded right here in Hawaii and so, my kuleand begins by partnering with this community. My childhood was one of hardship, and I spent several years or much of my time) living on the streets. The experience made me more appreciative and molded me to the person who I am today. What I have I could not be more grateful for but it really would have been nice to have had someone in my corner during those tough times. This is why I created the "Pudgee for Productivity" Academic Program. All keiki deserve an opportunity to be recognized and rewarded for efforts of personal improvement no matter what obstacles they might face. I thank you for your support of Pudgee Panda and in doing so, being an instrument in the flame for change for the greater good.

Mahalo

GOODWILL HAWAII OPENING NEW STORE IN WAIKOLOA VILLAGE, HAWAII ISLAND

Goodwill Hawaii will mark the opening of its fourth store and donation center on Hawaii Island, located at the all-new Waikoloa Plaza (68-1820 Waikoloa Rd., Waikoloa, HI 96738), with a Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, March 4. The first 100 shoppers (18 years or older) in line will receive a free gift card and reusable tote bag.

“We are honored to be one of the first stores opening at the new Waikoloa Plaza shopping center, which is bringing lots of new and exciting options and resources to residents in the West Hawaii communities,” said Goodwill Hawaii president and CEO Katy Chen. “We’ve made a commitment to helping more people who are in need across Hawaii Island, and this new store and donation center is just one of the many investments we have planned over the next few years.”

With the addition of the new Waikoloa Store and Donation Center, Goodwill now has four store locations on island including in Kona, Hilo and Pahoa as well as attended donation centers at the Keauhou Shopping Center in Kailua-Kona and at the Island of Hawaii YMCA in Hilo. The money generated in stores supports free employment and training programs for low-income families, people transitioning out of incarceration, adults with disabilities, at-risk youth, and others with employment barriers. The nonprofit organization has three program offices, two in Hilo and one in Kona, that helps more than 2,000 Hawaii Island residents every year to find jobs across a variety of industries and increase their financial independence. Those in need of assistance can visit Goodwill Hawaii’s website for more info or contact (808) 836-WORK.

Goodwill Hawaii is the 14th largest employer on Hawaii Island with more than 70 employees working in its retail operations and employment programs. They are still looking to fill several positions at the Waikoloa Store and have openings for retail workers and program staff at its other Hawaii Island locations. For more info or to apply, visit GoodwillHawaii.org/jobs

The Waikoloa Store and Donation Center grand opening event will begin at 9:30 am. In addition to free gift cards for the first 100 customers, there will also be complimentary refreshments and a blessing by Waimea’s own Kumu Micah Kamohoali‘i and Hālau Nā Kipu‘upu‘u. For more information, visit GoodwillHawaii.org