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TheBuzz
Erika Engle
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Hawaii's first McCafe is brewing on Kaneohe base
HAWAII'S first McCafe, serving gourmet coffee, pastries and desserts, opened last week in the company-owned McDonald's on Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe.
It is one of relatively few McCafe locations in the nation, though there are hundreds around the world.
"We're very excited about it," said Melanie Okazaki, marketing manager for Hawaii's McDonald's restaurants.
McCafe serves the specialty coffees that have spawned equally specialty verbiage, just for the ordering of same.
A small, plain ol' cuppa joe, with no adornment, called an "Americano," costs $1.50. A small cappuccino sells for $2.20, and a small hazelnut caramel latte will set a caffeine-seeker back $2.40, just for some examples. There are also frappucino, macchiatos, chais and other gourmet specialty beverages.
Hawaii's first McCafe serves Hawaii Coffee Co.'s Lion Coffee, a fact Okazaki was proud to share.
Customers may also order pastries and desserts that don't appear on a traditional McDonald's menu, but that's it for now.
"As we get experienced with McCafe we'll look at expanding our menu," Okazaki said.
Established McCafe locations -- the first opened in Sydney, Australia, in 1991 -- serve foods such as deli sandwiches and wraps.
Meanwhile, Okazaki said there will be more McCafe locations in Hawaii.
"We will open more locations in 2007," she said, and they won't necessarily all be in company-owned stores.
"We're looking at each location for a McCafe based on its merits." Some may not be big enough to accommodate a separate counter area, for instance.
The company hasn't sought any press on the new on-base operation yet. The company is still hiring for the location, seeking baristas and shift supervisors who will be paid $8 to $12 an hour, depending on the position.
The company will have representatives at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Hemenway Hall to talk about McCafe employment opportunities from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday.
A sparkling breakfast
Audrey Hepburn didn't really enjoy Breakfast at Tiffany's in the movie of the same name -- she merely noshed on a pastry or something outside the window looking longingly past the glass.
However, breakfast will be served at Tiffany & Co. when it opens its fifth store in Hawaii, its first on the Big Island, tomorrow morning.
The upscale jewelry and accessory retailer traditionally opens new stores in this way, with invitation-only catered events for company officials, select clients, local dignitaries, nonprofit beneficiaries and other VIPs. It also hosts many highbrow events once a store is opened.
The new 3,000-square-foot store at Kings' Shops at the Waikoloa Beach Resort will open to the public following the sumptuous 9 to 11 a.m. soiree.
"The Big Island of Hawaii is an ideal location for a Tiffany store," said Sherron Rosenberger, store director. "Its vibrant and growing economy, fueled by tourism and a growing population, will benefit from a conveniently located Tiffany store," which company officials hope will appeal to visitors and residents.
The local nonprofit that will benefit first from a relationship with the store is the Kahilu Theatre Foundation.
Tiffany's other stores in Hawaii are in Waikiki, at Ala Moana Center, and on Maui, at Whaler's Village in Lahaina and at the Wailea Resort.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4747, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at:
eengle@starbulletin.com