Chocolate le`a - The Chocolate Shop
I can’t believe I haven’t written a blog about our own chocolate shop! I love our little place!
Tucked back in beautiful Manoa valley where the mountains are the greenest green and rainbows make a regular appearance, is our chocolate shop, Choco le`a, tucked on a side street in what looks like a giant house with a white picket fence.
It’s adorable and I love being there.
It was always my dream that our chocolate shop would feel a bit like a home. Beautiful, but accessible. Gorgeous touches of decor mixed with practicality. Cozy AND spacious. Warm, inviting, clean and friendly. And fresh chocolates coming right out of the kitchen.
So when people come in smiling and say things like “I love the setup” or “Your display is so nice” or “The chocolates are beautiful” or “This place smells amazing” or “Wow….so kawaii” it makes my heart sing!
One of the most popular things we hear when we welcome people and ask, “How are you doing today?” is their response “Great now that I’m here!” :)
When we created our shop, I honestly worked off of our savings and that was our budget. I shopped for favorite pieces I could only dream about for a place of my own and hit up TJ Maxx, Target, and a few special ones from Pier 31. That was probably one of the most fun parts of starting up the shop, was picking out all of the things I loved and decorating. :p
And things slowly evolved, one wall at a time, as we earned and saved money we were able to continue to pour back into the place. It’s not perfect, but it feels like home.
And we welcome you to come and shop with us. I love this little place not only because of the chocolates and decor, but really because of the people and the spirit of the culture inside.
Just the other night, Tori and I were alone in the closed shop reflecting on the past and how much better we are today plus our dreams for the future. At the end of it all, we just agreed that we loved working with each other, we loved our team, and we were grateful for all that this little chocolate shop has provided us.
Whenever I travel, on my “must do” list anywhere I go, is I look for cute little artisan chocolate shops! I love to take in every little detail. The smell, the display, the chocolates, the sound of someone making the chocolates on-site, the ruffle of laughter and smiling customers, the decor, and the people behind it all. So if you’re traveling to Hawai`i and the island of Oahu, I really hope you come and find our little artisan chocolate shop and put us on your “must do” list too!
We hope it feels like a place you can call your chocolate home and we welcome you! From our chocolate family to yours. :)
erin’s tip
If you’ve never been in the shop, please come. We’d love to see you!
Open Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday from 10:00am - 5:00pm.
