Maui Wowi® was founded to provide families with a healthy alternative to sugary, fat-laden foods. More importantly, it was built on the premise that business should be fun, flexible and mobile. That’s why our founders, Jeff and Jill Summerhays created a business where they could offer all-natural, fresh-fruit smoothies and coffee anywhere they traveled.
Our ‘Ohana Origins
To the Summerhays, ‘ohana — or family — is everything, and it’s a value that rings true in our franchise every single day. When the couple first started the business, they were newlyweds, fresh out of college. In fact, the first smoothie they ever made together was on their honeymoon in Hawaii. At the time, Jill was looking for part-time work, while Jeff was busy helping his family run their successful chain of restaurants.
What began as a hobby quickly turned into giving out free samples at the 1983 Utah State Fair. Their smoothies grew in popularity and they started selling them everywhere they went, even on a vacation in Australia.
Fast-forward more than 35 years…Jeff and Jill are living their dream of owning a business doing what they love. And, they’re sharing the wealth with entrepreneurs who have the same Aloha Spirit.
From Our ‘Ohana to Yours
Jeff and Jill always wanted the freedom to focus on their family. Maui Wowi® gave them the opportunity to do so. It’s the same reason we offer multiple mobile business models:
- Ka’anapali Cart (a.k.a. K-Cart)
- Concession Trailer
- Food Truck
We never want our franchisees to feel like they’re confined to the four walls of an office, like many of them do in Corporate America.
Take happy Maui Wowi® franchisee, Mitchell York, for instance. He wanted to escape corporate life but never imagined himself running a business, let alone doing it while wearing a Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops. He says all he needed to do was have the guts to leave his job. The end result? He loves Maui Wowi® so much, he wrote a book about it. Check out his story below:
One of our franchisees, Mary Bigler, turned Maui Wowi® into a family business. Her son, Jim, began working for her at the ripe age of 15, and now, he owns 11 K-Carts, three catering units and one retail store. Talk about big-wave success!
You see, at Maui Wowi®, we don’t just believe our franchisees are family, we embody the meaning of ‘ohana. From our products and branding to our training and support, we have each other’s back every step of the way.
So many of our franchisees are able to spend more time having fun with their families, traveling, or just enjoying more of life altogether. And it’s all thanks to that fateful day on our fearless founders’ honeymoon. Jill says, “If they [franchisees] want this to be a small business, they can have it be a part-time, weekend-only operation,” she continues, “If they want it to be a full-time business, they can do that as well.”
You can even switch back and forth from part- to full-time ownership. Travel from event to event or set up shop at a shopping center or sports arena. Either way, Maui Wowi® leaves it all up to you. The important thing is to have fun doing it.
©2018 Kahala Franchising, L.L.C. All rights reserved. All other trademarks referenced are property of their respective owners. The information provided herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise; nor is it directed to the residents of any particular jurisdiction within the U.S. or elsewhere. The following states currently regulate the offer and sale of franchises: CA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, and WI. If you are a resident of one of these states, or of a jurisdiction that has similar requirements, we will not offer you a franchise until we have completed the applicable registration or obtained the exemption from registration, and completed the applicable disclosure requirements. Regardless of what state you reside in, an offering can only be made by a franchise disclosure document.