In 2014, my sister Kiersten and I, the founders of Shaka Kitchen, moved to the small town of Hilo, Hawaii. It was here where we learned about the “Hawaiian way” and gained the inspiration that would lead us to the creation of Shaka Kitchen.To us the Hawaiian way meant more than just the way the locals lived. It meant living better. It meant eating wholesome, fresh, nutritious food. It meant living an active yet relaxed lifestyle. It meant treating one’s body and the world that nourishes it with respect and gratitude. It was an inspiration to our being and one we wanted to share with the world.In 2015 we returned to our home state of New Jersey with a plan to share the Hawaiian way via the creation of Shaka Kitchen. Using my extensive background in marketing coined with my passion for leading a healthy lifestyle, alongside Kiersten's lifelong passion for being a chef, we worked together to form Shaka Kitchen. Shaka Kitchen was to be a health focused eatery inspired by the Hawaiian lifestyle - colorful, simple, and healthy, a place where one could escape the stresses of everyday life and focus on the betterment of one’s self through eating wholesome, fresh, nutritious food in a relaxing environment with a caring staff that treats each and every customer like ohana (Family).As we began preparations for our first restaurant, life took a turn for Kiersten & thus, myself when Kiersten was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Kiersten persevered through this tough time and quickly beat the cancer crediting the Hawaiian way for her speedy recovery. Back in good health, we were ever more determined to share the power of healthy eating.In the Fall of 2016, the first Shaka Kitchen was opened in Hoboken, NJ operating out of just 600 square feet with a menu centered around acai, pitaya, poke bowls, and smoothies. The population of Hoboken embraced the Hawaiian way that my sister and I had brought to them and the sisters soon expanded our menu and opened a second Hoboken location to cater to the rising demand.Today, Shaka Kitchen is a fully formed Franchise Corporation. Shaka Kitchen has been featured in Forbes, The Digest, The Food Network and several other media outlets and now caters for clients such as Bloomingdales, GOAT, Snapchat, Forbes, Shutterstock, and many more. In 2019, Kiersten brought home the title "Chopped Champion" from Foot Network's popular show Chopped. You can now #FindYourShaka at our two locations located in Hoboken, New Jersey with more locations on the horizon.