Restaurant Insider with Anne Lee: Hau Tree, Purvé Donut Stop, Thrills Soft Serve

ANNE LEE speaks with Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center executive director HEATHER LUSK and Hau Tree beverage director JEN ACKRILL

Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center has been around for more than 35 years. Carrying the torch of Life Foundation (1985-2018), it is the oldest and largest AIDS services organization in the state. Honolulu AIDS Walk began in 1991 and will be celebrating 30 years this month with a virtual walk titled “30 years in 30 days.” Learn more at honoluluaidswalk.org.

Three eateries will be giving back with special items created just for this fundraiser: Purvé Donut Stop, Thrills Soft Serve and Hau Tree. I met up with Heather Lusk to learn more about the organization and Hau Tree beverage director Jen Ackrill to talk about a special cocktail she created specifically for this event.

Caramel Apple Bottom ($3) from Purvé Donut Stop

AL: Can you tell me about the history of this organization?

HL: HHHRC is actually a merge of two longstanding organizations: The Life Foundation and The Child Project. On July 1, we will be celebrating three years as a joined organization. Our mission is to reduce harm, promote health, create wellness and fight stigma in Hawaii. We offer a lot of street-based outreach services. We launched our medical mobile unit June 1 and have a clinic in Kakaako.

AL: Jen, how did you come up with specialty cocktail, the Lokahi Fizz?

JA:Originally, I wanted to do a cocktail with rainbow-colored ice, but it was really difficult to achieve. So, I created a cocktail that is crystal clear. The intention is that we are crystal clear on inclusion, equality and pride.

To make it clear, I used a citric acid solution, so it gives the flavor of citrus. I chose Ketel One vodka as they are big supporters of the LGTBQ community, as well as Nolet Gin (also a Ketel One product). It’s garnished with a dehydrated lemon wheel, with real gold flakes to honor Pride Month because you have to be fabulous. It’s $17, and $1 of goes toward Honolulu AIDS Walk during June. I came up with the name by consulting with members of the Hawaiian community, and Lokahi translates to be united as one; unity.

AL: How can we participate in Honolulu AIDS Walk?

HL: We encourage all participants to walk a bit each day (at their own pace or any type of exercise in the month of June) and post on social media (@hhhrc_). Why is it a month-long walk? Its purpose is to bring awareness and education about HIV. There will also be the Bid For Life Silent Auction to help with fundraising efforts June 16-30. Registration is free, but if you donate $50 upon registration, you will receive a commemorative 30th anniversary Honolulu AIDS Walk T-shirt. There will be events throughout the month. Visit honoluluaidswalk.org to see the full schedule of events.

Lokahi Fizz ($17) from Hau Tree

AL: Three local eateries have offerings specific for this fundraiser. Can you tell me more about them?

HL: June 1-30, Hau Tree will be donating $1 from each Lokahi Fizz.

Our friends at Purvé Donut Stop created the special flavor Caramel Apple Bottom. According to the owners: “We took the caramel apple lollipops with a sour apple core, and tried to figure out how to deconstruct that to a donut. Our glaze is a sour apple Jolly Rancher mix. Then we put on Apple Jack’s cereal, and top with caramel. We created this based on popular flavor requests we get. From June 6 to 12, 100% of all proceeds from this $3 donut will benefit HHHRC.”

Sugar Baby ($9) from Thrills Soft Serve

In May 2019, Thrills Soft Serve opened, offering ice cream and waffle cones made fresh in-house daily. Their creation for this fundraiser was the Sugar Baby, a sugar cookie ice cream flavor paired with a few rainbow top pings (to celebrate pride and love). It’s $9. For $1.50 more, customers can upgrade their ice cream cup combo to one of their signature ube vanilla or dark cocoa cones. They named it so that it would stand out, as Sugar Babies are iconic, center of attention … they know what they want and they get it! June 6-12, 50% of all proceeds will benefit HHHRC here locally and the other 50% will be donated to The Trevor Project, which focuses on youth.

Hau Tree

The Kaimana Beach Hotel
2863 Kalakaua Ave., lobby floor
808-921-7066
kaimana.com

Purvé Donut Stop

1234 Kona St. Honolulu
808-200-3978

Kuono Marketplace
4210 Waialae Ave.
808-762-8351
purvehawaii.com

Thrills Soft Serve

510 Piikoi St., Honolulu
808-888-6860
instagram.com/thrillshnl