TheBuzz Erika Engle

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Frozen treats coming to University area

A Yogurtland self-serve frozen treats joint, foretold in this space in November, will open next month at the Manoa site vacated by Volcano Joe's.

The Hawaii location, at 1810 University Ave., will be Yogurtland's first in the islands. The local operation is owned by Charlin Johnston, who established Yogurtland Hawaii Inc. in October.

Johnston could not be reached for comment, but an official of the YMCA of Honolulu, which owns the property, told TheBuzz in November that the two were negotiating over the space.

There is probably no connection to the nominative suffix, but Yogurtland will be a few blocks mauka of the old Burgerland Drive-In that used to sling burgers and fries to the UH crowd, Hawaii Public Television employees and others at University and Dole Street.

The self-serve concept sets Yogurtland apart in that it offers dispense-your-own creations at 39 cents an ounce, which is up to 40 percent cheaper than other shops, according to a company statement.

Employees will prepare frozen beverages, but the self-serve selection will include 16 rotating and classic flavors including taro, green tea, pistachio, peanut butter and of course vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

It will also have no-sugar-added flavors and some choices that are in keeping with the tart-taste trend popular in Asian-based fro-yo franchises.

Because we rarely leave well enough alone, 33 topping choices will be available including fruit, nuts, cereal, chocolates and other confections.

People still like us

The 50 most-popular Memorial Day destinations at Priceline.com this year include four Hawaii spots for the first time in the list's six-year history.

Unfortunately for the Big Island and Kauai, the four spots are split between Waikiki and Maui.

Based on more than 30,000 hotel room bookings by the online travel portal's customers, the Waikiki Beach area is the eleventh-most-popular destination for this Memorial Day, while the Waikiki Marina area ranked No. 18. Nos. 38 and 39 on the list are Wailea-Makena and Kaanapali-Lahaina, respectively.

Waikiki has dominated Hawaii sites on the list all six years, except for 2003 when Wailea-Makena was the favored isle locale at No. 16.

In a press statement, Priceline.com characterized the No. 1 finish of New York City's Times Square/Theater District as a surprise, as it replaced Chicago's Millennium Park.

However, TheBuzz has a feeling it is because akamai travelers want to see Hawaii stage and commercial star and newly Tony-nominated Loretta Ables-Sayre in "South Pacific" on Broadway.

CORRECTION Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Hawaii's first Yogurtland self-serve frozen yogurt shop will sell its frozen treats for 39 cents an ounce. This column originally said the price would be 30 cents an ounce.