Looking to expand their dream, father and son team, Gary and Garrett Spates work to give the world some of the best tasting popcorn!
Hawaiian Popcorn was started by the Spates family in 1996 with their “secret family recipe.” All three sons, alongside their parents, worked local street fairs and festivals every weekend “every teenager’s dream on a Saturday!” For three years throughout Southern California we worked to create extra income and provide a great snack to family, friends, and the community. Demand for the unique taste and quality of Hawaiian Popcorn, the Spates family built a small factory to hand pack and distribute their product to the public. Starting in gas stations and Mom and Pop stores, we were eventually able to get our brand into one of the largest chains in the US, Costco California in 1999. In just two years this enabled us to expand our factory from a small four kettle operation and hand sealing machines, into a semi-automated factory producing over 3,200 bags a day.
In hopes of taking our company nationwide, we decided to hire on an outside sales rep to take Hawaiian Popcorn to the next level. This at the time seemed like the best option for us, but ended up hurting us in the long run. Our new sales force was selling at unattainable prices to sustain business. In 2004 we unfortunately were forced to close our factory that we as a family worked so hard to create. With no funds available to bring Hawaiian Popcorn back into production, it sat dormant and disappeared off the shelves.
In 2011, Gary “Pops” Spates had a dream to move to Hawaii and bring back the product he loved so much. With everyone in doubt, he eventually convinced his youngest son Garrett, now 27, to move from California with only one suitcase in hand. We have started over from scratch and built a small factory in Honolulu, HI packing and sealing by hand. We are using the same techniques and quality ingredients we used in 1996, making it a local favorite all over again. With newly created products focusing on quality, packaging and manufacturing techniques, we strive to become a leader in the popcorn industry. Today Gary and Garrett work at the same goal that they had 16 years ago. The Spates family dream of Hawaiian Popcorn being a national brand is back in fruition.
Right now we have grown our sales with only one product to sustain and break even in our market. We are unable to grow without expanding our current product line to increase sales. We have tried to attain funding from multipe banks and private investors, but have been unsuccessful in doing so. Today's economy has made it nearly impossible to get loans as a small business. We are stuck and unable to grow, now looking for help here on Kickstarter to fund and launch our new Hawaiian Popcorn products that we have worked so hard to create!
All funds will go directly into machinery and packaging to launch our new Chocolate Drizzle and Gourmet Microwave products.
Chocolate Melter, Chocolate Drizzling Enrober, Chocolate Cooling Tunnel, 2 Tray Film Sealing Machines, Plastic Tray's, Full Color product boxes, Full Color Microwave bag film, Microwave Variety pack plastic containers and Shipping Boxes.
Aloha and thank you to everyone for reading our story. If you visit Hawaii in the near future be sure to stop by our factory for a fresh sample of Hawaiian Popcorn and to meet the Spates family. Mahalo!
FAQ
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14
Backers
$509
pledged of $100,000 goal
Funding Canceled Funding for this project was canceled by the project creator on May 21, 2012.
Funding period
May 10, 2012 -
Jun 9, 2012
(30 days)
- First created · 1 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: hawaiianpopcorn.com
Pledge $1 or more
1 backer
Huge Aloha from the "Poppin' in Paradise" family.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $5 or more
3 backers
A Hawaiian thank you "MAHALO!" from the Hawaiian Popcorn family. A signed card from the grateful family and employees of our company. We appreciate your help and your generous donation to our project. We look forward to building our product into a worldwide brand and your donation will help us achieve this goal!
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $10 or more
1 backer
Receive a custom Hawaiian Popcorn surfboard Magnet packed and shipped directly to you with Aloha! We appreciate you making our vision become a reality! (International Shipping add $5
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $25 or more
1 backer
Receive 2 different color Custom Hawaiian Popcorn Collectable Surfboard Magnets, 1 CD of Hawaiian Popcorn's radio jingle, and 2- 2oz bags of Hawaiian Popcorn Gourmet Kettle Corn, Packed with Aloha! Thank you for your support and for helping take our Popcorn from Paradise to the next level! (International shipping add $15)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $50 or more
4 backers
Receive 1 Six-pack of Hawaiian Popcorn Chocolate Drizzle, 4- 2oz bags Hawaiian Popcorn Gourmet Kettle Corn , 2 Custom Collectable Hawaiian Popcorn Surfboard Magnet. We won't forget about the thank you either! Your pledge will be packed with Aloha! (International shipping add $20)
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $75 or more
0 backers
Receive 1 Six-pack of Hawaiian Popcorn Chocolate Drizzle, 2 – 10oz bags Hawaiian Popcorn Gourmet Kettle Corn, 2 different color Collectable Hawaiian Popcorn Surfboard Magnets, 1 CD of Hawaiian Popcorn's radio jingle, and a huge Mahalo from the Spates family! (International shipping add $25)
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $99 or more
1 backer
1 Six-pack Hawaiian Popcorn Chocolate Drizzle, 1- 12pk variety pack Hawaiian Popcorn Gourmet Microwave Popcorn Jar, 4- 2oz bags of Hawaiian Popcorn Gourmet Kettle Corn, Receive 1 Hawaiian Popcorn T-Shirt, and 2 different color Custom Collectable Hawaiian Popcorn Surfboard Magnet. This will help us reach our goal and we can't thank you enough. (International shipping add $35)
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $250 or more
0 backers
2 six-packs of Hawaiian Popcorn Chocolate Drizzle, 2 -12 pk variety pack Hawaiian Popcorn Gourmet Microwave Popcorn Jars, 8- 2oz bags and 2- 10oz bags of Hawaiian Popcorn Gourmet Kettle Corn, 3 different color Custom Collectable Hawaiian Popcorn Surfboard Magnets, Receive 1 Embroidered Hawaiian Popcorn Hat and Printed T-Shirt, and 1 CD of Hawaiian Popcorn's radio jingle, and we won’t forget the Aloha card from the Spates Family. (International shipping add $50)
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $500 or more
0 backers
2 six-packs Hawaiian Popcorn Chocolate Drizzle, 3 -12 pk variety pack Hawaiian Popcorn Gourmet Microwave Popcorn Jars, 15- 2oz bags and 4-10oz bags of Hawaiian Popcorn Gourmet Kettle Corn, and 4 different color Custom Collectable Hawaiian Popcorn Surfboard Magnets, 2 Embroidered Hats, 2 Printed T's, and 1 CD of Hawaiian Popcorn's radio jingle. Sent with Aloha from Hawaii! (International shipping add $65)
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers
4 six-packs Hawaiian Popcorn Chocolate Drizzle, 4 -12 pk variety pack Hawaiian Popcorn Gourmet Microwave Popcorn Jars, 30- 2oz bags and 16-10oz bags of Hawaiian Popcorn Gourmet Kettle Corn, and 4 different color custom collectable Hawaiian Popcorn Surfboard Magnets, 4 Embroidered Hats, 4 Printed T's, 1 CD of Hawaiian Popcorn's radio jingle, and with your help we can become the world’s leader in gourmet popcorn products. (International shipping add $85)
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $2,500 or more
0 backers
6 six-packs Hawaiian Popcorn Chocolate Drizzle, 6 -12 pk variety pack Hawaiian Popcorn Gourmet Microwave Popcorn Jars, 60- 2oz bags and 16-10oz bags of Hawaiian Popcorn Gourmet Kettle Corn, and 4 different color custom collectable Hawaiian Popcorn Surfboard Magnets, 6 Embroidered Hats, 6 Printed T's, and 1 CD of Hawaiian Popcorn's radio jingle. With your help we will be able to fund our new product line and get the equipment needed. Mahalo for the generous donation! We look forward to seeing our new products on the shelves! (International shipping add $100)
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers
Full sized 8' Hawaiian Popcorn Custom Made Collector’s Surfboard with logo and graphics printed on board. You can use it for surfing the big ones at pipeline or the gentle ones in Waikiki, or maybe just hanging as a sign in your game room, you decide. This will be designed and hand made by a world renowned surfboard shaper from North Shore Hawaii. We will also include a box filled with Aloha surprises from the Hawaiian Popcorn production line. This is truly a collector’s dream to get an amazing surfboard and also help our company grow to a worldwide brand. Thank you!! Mahalo from the Spates Family. (International shipping add $500)
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $10,000 or more
0 backers
Receive 2 round trip tickets, 4 night hotel stay in Honolulu, Hawaii along with a tour of our factory, We won't forget about a box full of Hawaiian Popcorn products! Ocean front dinner for two with Gary and Garrett Spates, on Waikiki Beach. Mahalo and see you soon in Hawaii! (International add $5,000)
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
