Sure to give you a lift

Lucy Kunimura greets downtown coffee fans with a bright smile and a great attitude

Lucy Kunimura Title: Partner and barista Job: Serves drinks and food at Starbucks in the Bishop Building

Lucy Kunimura serves up a lot of goodwill where she works in downtown Honolulu. Customers at the Starbucks in the Cades Schutte Building get a lift from the barista even before buying any coffee from her, so cheery and friendly is she toward those who stop by.

Kunimura, who like all Starbucks employees is also known as a "partner," has been with the company in Hawaii since it opened in the Cades Schutte Building 10 years ago. Before that, she had worked part time for Starbucks for two years in Orange County, Calif., where she had been studying vision science at the Southern California College of Optometry.

Kunimura had moved to the mainland in 1992 after obtaining a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. But living on the mainland lost its luster, and she welcomed the opportunity to return to Hawaii as part of the team that opened Starbucks' Cades Schutte Building outlet -- the chain's fourth in Hawaii after debuting here about six months earlier at Kahala Mall.

The youngest of six children in her family, Kunimura was born and raised in Hilo, where she graduated from Waiakea High School. Though she didn't graduate from the optometry school, Kunimura retained an interest in health issues, and eight years ago also joined the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii, where she works part time as an education assistant.

"The people who work at the center were our customers (at Starbucks)," she explained. "They would come in for coffee, and I got lucky: They asked me if I wanted to join the organization. It's something I feel real passionate about, and I wanted to promote life gifts."

Asked her age, Kunimura said she is "young at heart." Pressed further, she said is "29 -- again."

Kunimura is single and lives in Salt Lake.

"So I'm close to the airport so I can visit home (Hilo)," she said.

Mark Coleman: How long have you worked at Starbucks??

Lucy Kunimura: I worked a couple years for Starbucks when I was going to school in California. When I heard they were opening in Hawaii, I worked with the team to help them open here, and that was 10 years ago. Time really flies.

Q: Is your title "partner" or "barista"?

A: I guess the employees of the company are called partners so everybody feels like they're part of making the company grow. But baristas is the title that they call us, too.

Q: Do they have profit-sharing with the partners?

A: No. They do have different programs, like a 401(k) savings plan. They also have a discounted stock-investment program that you can get involved in.

Q: So you worked for the company for two years in California?

A: Yeah. I started working for the company in Brea, in 1995.

Q: That was part time?

A: I was doing that while I was going to school, yeah, so it was really supportive of my school schedule -- and it helped me keep going to my classes because of the caffeine energy. (Laughter) So I'm really grateful I was able to work for them when I got back, because I really love Hawaii. I'm actually from Hilo.

Q: What was your major in college?

A: I was studying communication and health education. So I'm really lucky because I get to use both working at Starbucks and the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii. We've got 400 people on the wait list in Hawaii alone (seeking donated organs), so we're doing our best to talk with the community and let them know about their options of donations, so they can choose to donate organs and tissue. Each person, when they pass on, they can save and enhance the lives of 50 people. It's amazing how many people you are able to help with the gift of life.

Q: How long have you been working at the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii?

A: I've been working there eight years.

Q: Part time?

A: Yes.

Q: What are your hours at Starbucks?

A: I'm usually in before 5 in the morning, and stay 'til a little after 12 (noon) or so.

Q: And then you go to the Organ Donor Center?

A: Yeah. I'm thankful because the schedule at the center is flexible, so I go there when I can. I'm one of their public education assistants.

Q: What's the most common drink that your customers at Starbucks order?

A: Oh my goodness. A lot of the people like drip coffee.

Q: What's that?

A: The black coffee, straight coffee. That seems to be one of the most prevalent things that is chosen. I think it's because most people are on the go, and they want to have their caffeine supply for work.

Q: What's the most complicated drink that you have to prepare for customers?

A: Ohhh ... They can get as complicated as you want to make them, because there are so many variables.

You can choose if you want something with caffeine or decaf. You can vary the amount of shots of espresso that you want to put in each drink. You can add in different syrup flavors, and we have a whole variety of syrups that you can add. And we have different varieties of milks: soy milk, 2 percent, nonfat ...

I think they said there's about a quarter million combinations that they can serve you. Even with the frappacinos, there's such a variety that you can come up with. It's endless. (Laughter)

And that's what makes it fun. The different combinations that people come up with. And you can put your creativity into it, so you never have the same day. Every day is a totally new adventure. That's one of my favorite things about working there.

Also, we try our best at our store to treat the partners we work with and our customers the same kindness that you would want to share with your friends and family.

Q: That's beautiful.

A: It's so true, I promise. (Laughter) You share the aloha. We try to put our aloha in every drink. We really try.

I think we're lucky to work in the downtown location, because not only do we have the support of the business community, but we also have the support of the college community and visitors to the island, who come off of the cruise ships. So we get to see a lot of people from different parts of the world.

Q: Isn't there a Starbucks a block away?

A: There is. But the neat part is we have customers that will cross streets and come to us. Of course, I'm sure the same thing applies to them -- that people will cross the street to go be with them.

Q: What, would you say, is the most popular food item that you serve?

A: Our oat cakes, our low-fat oat cakes. They're like a healthy addiction in themselves. (Laughter)

Q: Is there a time of day at work that seems to be the busiest for you?

A: Oh my gosh. I'd say the busiest time is 7 to 9, when people are first coming to town and getting ready for school or work. But it picks up during the day because of the college classes.

Q: Is there a lot of room at the Bishop Street outlet for customers to sit down and enjoy their drinks and food?

A: There's some room in the store and we have some tables outside.

Q: Do you have to do any janitorial work there?

A: Mopping floors?

Q: Yeah.

A: Oh yeah -- mopping floors, sweeping floors, cleaning the windows, dishes ... (Laughter.) It's kind of like taking care of your home. You want it to be clean and look nice, so you tidy it up.

Q: How long do you have to stand up on the job before you're allowed to take a sit-down break?

A: Maybe a couple hours. Then they let me take a 10- or 15-minute break. The time goes so fast, because there's always somebody to try to help or serve.

Q: What's your favorite coffee drink?

A: Oh my gosh. I love a doppio con panna with honey.

Q: What's that?

A: It's two shots of espresso with whipped cream and honey.

Q: Do you get to drink all the free coffee you want?

A: We get a pound a week, or half a pound of the island coffee, to sample. That way we get a chance to try all the coffees that we serve. My favorite is cafe verona.

Q: Do you ever get sick of coffee or being around it?

A: No, I never get sick of it. I love coffee. I've always loved coffee. But more important, I love the people, too, so it's win win. It's a nice place to be.

Q: What's your favorite part of the job?

A: It's the people I work with and the people I get to meet.