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Meet Michelle Trejo of Hawaiian Style Bakery in Gilbert

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Trejo.

Michelle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in the Aloha State of Hawai’i and couldn’t miss it more. I am from a small town on the windward side of O’ahu called Kane’ohe. I had the great fortune of being raised in this beautiful town and by an incredible and hardworking mom who also was a skilled cook and baker. My mom, Eleanor “Ellie” Kekuewa, managed a few bakeries — one of them being Marie Callendar’s — and yes she baked all those pies from scratch. Aside of her career in restaurant and bakery management, she was just — an awesome baker! Dessert was never a shortage in our home of amazing desserts! Our birthdays were shear joy because we could “order” whatever we wanted — my go to was her chocolate mocha cake — absolutely to die for! She also made amazing pies, cookies, bars — but she was known for her quickbreads!

Growing up in Hawai’i is also a unique culinary experience as you are not only influenced by a plethora of ethnic delights but you are also raised in a state where food is a cherished and highly held form of gathering with friends and loved ones. Hawai’i is a melting pot where so many cultures have influenced the cuisine. Texture and taste are serious business back home — because if it isn’t hitting all the sensory levels then why the heck would anyone eat it? In Hawai’i dessert is celebrated and really great bakeries are in no shortage. Actually, to say ‘really great bakeries’ seems so disrespectful because these places are legendary. Places like Deluxe Pastry in my hometown—their custard danish is life! Seriously — life!

I moved with my family to Arizona back in 2000. We moved here with a dream and a prayer—what was the dream? That we wouldn’t have to pay through our teeth for a gallon of milk — that isn’t a joke — the simple conversation had between me and my former spouse after he returned from a trip to Arizona for his sisters wedding was “Hey we should move to Arizona, the milk is only 99 cents.” and I replied “ok” and sooner than you know it we were here in the great state of Arizona!

Upon arriving in Arizona it became very clear that we needed to go back to school and get our degrees, so we did — with a 5 year old, 2 year old, 1 and newborn in tow. I graduated from Arizona State with a degree in Business and Communications and a certificate in Asian Pacific American Studies. I had my heart set on a career in Training and Development and began that career at Pinal County Government. From there, I went on to a career in Organizational Development as I found that to be my true calling. I have a unique ability to see the bigger needs with businesses that help them to realize their long term goals.

I had a great opportunity to work with some childhood friends of mine, in helping them prepare their Hawaiian restaurants in expansion. It was a two year contract and I am proud to say they have since partnered with a larger entity and just opened their 12th store in Utah. Through that process, I presented my idea of the bakery and we dabbled in discussions of our famous Hawaiian delicacy of Chantilly and Guava Cakes — along with dreams of other homegrown goodies but nothing ever really came of those discussions.

Life happened — sadly got divorced and dealt with all of the challenges that come with that — and experienced the growth as well. Met and married an incredible man, Toby Trejo, who came with five kids of his own — three of which have autism — and situations arose where I found myself in the home again as my children were grown. Going from a career-oriented mindset to learning the ins and outs of autism and other personal challenges that were going on in our home was humbling and challenging — but also character building and immensely stretching on the spirit — which is always good for anyone!

I have never been an entrepreneurial person — I was always happy helping others grow their businesses through consulting (which is entrepreneurial in its own right) but I could not get rid of this bakery idea that had been sitting in my head for seven years. And when I say sitting there, I mean I had the name, menu, logo, layout of the store — everything! I had the business plan and all of its strategy just sitting in my head — the only thing I didn’t have was capital. Due to a series of events we had used every bit of savings and retirement to deal with some other challenges that had presented itself over the past three years. So if I was going to start this it would be with nothing—so how would I do that?

I decided to discuss it with my friends from Utah, the owners of Mo’ Bettah Hawaiian Style Food. Kimo and Kalani Mack of which they said “Michelle if you don’t do this — someone else will! You don’t need anyone — you can do this  — and you have something here — you just need to figure it out!” I then got the final push over the cliff by a very dear friend, Lee Bird (CEO of At Home Stores) who basically said “Michelle — you need to do this” and with that and the support of my incredible husband and assistance of our friend and attorney, Heath McWhorter we set up an LLC (IMUA Holdings, LLC – honoring my opportunities in education provided by The Kamehameha Schools) and began Hawaiian Style Bakery.

One thing we knew we needed to do was be a website-based business — with no storefront nor money for it we knew it was the only way to go. And by the grace of God we received a message from a longtime school mate of mine, Brandon Hughes of Hoku Marketing he offered his website services — along with my wonderful neighbor, Kindra McCallister of TK Productions offering to do my print work — without Brandon and Kindra none of this would be possible — together our amazing website was born!

We are now serving Arizona with a GENUINE and AUTHENTIC experience of Hawai’i — from the red palaka print in our logo to the buttery chewy decadence of our mochis — everything about Hawaiian Style Bakery is the real deal because the COO (Chief ‘Ono Officer), me, was born and raised in Hawai’i. When you eat anything from Hawaiian Style Bakery, you are having a real Hawaiian dessert that would be served in a real Hawaiian home — so E Komo Mai and enjoy a real taste of Hawai’i!

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Hawaiian Style Bakery story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in all genuine and unique desserts from Hawai’i.

What we are most proud of as a company the fact that we are providing genuine Hawaiian desserts made with quality ingredients!

What sets us apart from the others is the uniqueness of the product — oh and the taste is above all others!

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe that luck, good or bad, does not play into life or business. I believe that blessings and good fortune through the kindnesses and good acts of others have a lot to do with life — I also believe perspective has a lot to do with one’s circumstances.

Hawaiian Style Bakery has been blessed in so many ways through the good acts and kindnesses of others from loaning us our initial $1000 to start the business — which came from the kindness of someone — to donating two free refrigerators and someone else providing service to go pick them up in his truck. We have been blessed by so many who just want to see us succeed and have selflessly promoted our product and business. As mentioned earlier, we had an amazing photographer to shoot the product and a school time friend offer to assist us with our website — which is the lifeline of our business!

I could go on and on and on and have left so many out — but I believe that more than luck — there is good juju and bad juju — when you are kind to others and expect nothing in return for your kindness except their happiness –then only good juju comes of that.

As far as bad luck — well I think life is life and things happen — not sure it is bad luck — I think it is more so just life, and life isn’t easy. Life is full of ups and downs and one must learn to navigate that with grace and a good attitude — even when all of the odds are stacked against you, somehow there is good that can come of that!

Pricing:

  • Our cupcakes are all $30/dozen and worth every bite
  • Pies run $25
  • Desserts are on the average $25/dozen

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
TK Productions and Peggy Petersen Photography

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