Via Gelato

Before there was Via Gelato in Kaimuki, there was a truck, and before there was a truck, there was Melissa Bow, Owner, who just loved food. That’s where it all started.

Having moved from New York City, back to Hawaii, the place where she grew up, missing foods in Hawaii was definitely an inspiration - a Fukuya shiso musubi, a black sesame Chinese dim sum dessert, and of course all the tropical flavors like Pirie mangos, haupia and lilikoi. These flavors of all the cultures in Hawaii became the menu of gelato and sorbetto at the Via Gelato truck and it lit a spark with local people.

So, Via Gelato began as a food truck serving artisanal quality gelato with unique flavors inspired by local Hawaiian tastes and people came out to the side of the road and farmer’s markets in lines. One year later, Via Gelato opened a store in Kaimuki with even more flavors than the six that could fit in a truck, and a brightly-lit, family-friendly ambiance. Each day the gelato makers make twenty-one flavors that create joy.

Via Gelato supports local causes in the community by saying yes whenever folks reach out for donations large and small. They donate to the Blood Bank drives with coupons and work with countless school fundraisers whether it's through fundraising tickets or through gifts of merchandise, gift cards and gelato cakes for galas (Iolani, Moanalua Elementary, numerous UH clubs, Holy Nativity School). They have given gift cards for Cancer Care Kits; donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hawaii; and donated to the Girl Scouts.

Last year, they made a special flavor to the Make a Wish Foundation and donated all proceeds to the Foundation so they could help make a child's wish come true.