 of things that I eat this in Makiki. Today I'd love to introduce you to Kai Coloal as she teaches us how to cook healthy with organic spices. Yum yum. Flavor without labor is what she says and doesn't that sound like a plan for us all. Welcome Kai. Aloha. Hi Wendy. Aloha. Yeah I just found out that we're neighbors. We're in the same Makiki neighborhood so like our connection should be really good because we're right next to each other right? Yes absolutely. So Kai let's get started. Please share with us where does your passion and your inspiration for healthy cooking come from? It came from my mother and every day she would cook healthy beautiful Filipino food mostly and from scratch and I just I learned from that and I didn't want to I wanted to teach people to do the same and that's what made me start my my spice company Kailani Spices. And so now your mom your Filipino are you 100 Filipino? No I'm a boy dog. Oh okay because I didn't even know you're Filipino so when I heard that your mom you you came from the Philippines I was like wow that's amazing. Yes I was born there and came to America and only spoke Tagalog. Wow and so back home your mom would cook healthy Filipino food or just healthy food? Just healthy food but mostly Filipino food and and then from that I learned American cooking and I don't even eat fast food that's how I feel about healthy cooking and spices and cooking fresh especially in Hawaii with all our wonderful fresh produce. Right. It's my uh how you say my motto as well. But we're on the same boat that's why we get along when I first met you a few years ago. Wow so you know like many of us here in Hawaii you went to work at the hotels when you're of age besides work what else did you find there at the Hyatt? Oh my handsome wonderful husband. His friend kept telling him about this single girl she just broke up with her boyfriend his name is down as well. Yeah so that's we met there. Wow. I have the same story but we won't go into that right now. That's why we get along so well and you know the hotel husband thing same thing but anyway so I know that you have two grandchildren please brag about them a little bit with us. Oh my goodness my first one he's uh his name is Kavella. I said he was conceived here and born in New Zealand his mom moved to New Zealand and all of them they're actually my husband's three daughters he has three daughters and of course I've been with them since they were young so I feel they're my daughters as well and Kavella he's part Samoan and so they moved to New Zealand and then the middle daughter we have a she's 16 amazing talented both of them plays the piano writes music and they're coming in July just can't wait. They were born and raised in New Zealand. Yes they're now and but like I said his daughters were all born here but they found New Zealand and fell in love and they decided to stay except one the youngest one is back here. Have you been to New Zealand? Oh many times since they yeah and you know I'm sure the people of New Zealand they eat healthy as well right? Oh beautiful produce beautiful meat but it's funny when I first went there the food was terrible that great I know they they adapted the British type of cooking and now they're the food is fantastic. Oh wow you go there and you help them out and help them and and take the best of what they have and you bring it back to Hawaii right? Yes and middle daughter has a farm so it's organic too she has that she eats organic vegetables from her garden and fresh eggs and yes just really really living off the land. What a blessing that's my dream is to go to New Zealand as soon as things open up and get happening again I want to venture to New Zealand spend a few months out there and just enjoy the good air and the good quality of life that they have there so you're blessed. Yeah I'll let you know you hook me up. Okay so you know when I first met you many many years ago I know that you were doing demos and I was promoting my chocolate factory back then but what were you promoting and just the passion that you were promoting it with it was incredible what were you doing back then? Oh I started my spice my spice rub company here's one bottle it's called Hawaiian spice and kailani spices and so what what what it was I really wanted to help people cook again and spices are all medicinal and delicious at the same time that's why I say flavor it out the labor and so I started at KCC farmers market and I was making this wonderful curry fried rice with cranberries here's the picture of it on the cover and that's I could talk about that later and and it really went fantastic. People love the spices now come up with seven blends and yes because I know I know what I like best is it's the the logo that you said flavor without labor and so I know that when I see you you make it look so easy and so for the the general public the busy mom coming home you know she can either prep this up in the beginning or come home and just put it all together and that's basically what we all need is over your choices with labor and less labor so you've come up with a winner I know that thank you and so I know that we have a picture of one of your favorite dishes and if you would just tell us about it a little bit I just look here's an example of a beautiful vegetarian dish of course all our spices are good on everything and this is food with roasted vegetables so easy you we use the spices pop the curry and the Hawaiian pasta with the vegetable and roasted it and then mix the quinoa with the with the curry spice and just wanted to show how much flavor there is and quick and easy as she said and that was my goal so people were so busy they were telling me my friends they were too busy to cook and I said oh I'm gonna come up with a rub and make it easy you just rub it uh bake or grill or toss it into your food or salad and make cooking easy and delicious at the same time well you know um as a business owner there are so many challenges especially now after the last two years and finding good workers and uh employees is very difficult so it's it's the one of actually one of the biggest challenges I think for all business owners so I know that you have a a couple of very loyal workers just give them a shout out at this time well uh Chrissy who's been with me since she was 18 she does all my social media now she's the mother of two and her wonderful mother also that's um on the left in the picture there and um she's often on working with me as well she's down the street and Brian who's my assistant manager I call him my spice guy he does everything for the company he used to deliver and uh and and you know look over the stores but now he makes all the spices and now I deliver and take care of her and that seems like more of a fit because I've been like when I ran my factory I love delivery because then I could get the feedback directly from the buyer and then the customers that are buying at that moment and you know you're all about that right talking story improving see what the needs are and fulfilling it and so how did you manage like in the last two years with COVID did that affect your business at all um yes and no yes um uh no because a lot of people started you know they had to cook at home right and because the restaurants were closed so yes our our sales were up a bit because people knew it's healthy and easy to use and they were cooking so it was a great timing for us we didn't we barely slowed down which was you know which I was grateful for so the COVID had some pluses and as well as minuses well I know that every time I go into down to earth or I see that one selection is yellow because it's the cumin and the curry but I know that it's yours is that is is it yours at the down to earth in the buffet line yes yes they they actually make many many dishes they're one of our biggest customers we do down to earth use um oh my so many so many dishes that are different spice that's a blessing that's a big blessing to have a great customer and I know that um but I like to tell people to go to down to earth because they kind of do the homework for us so I don't have to look at the labels so much so I know that when I go in there I know that the contents will not contain MSG and it has all the right ingredients so I tell people you know that's good they take all the household of shopping like how you you took the house a lot of cooking you favor with less labor or no labor so you know busy and we're all looking for that easy quick way to get a great healthy meal so important so important so you know you're really wise and you're really really blessed that that your friend Karina has that young girl or younger daughter Prissy who's helping you with the social media I mean that's half our battle I mean for myself that's why I'm blessed that I got out of the business because I didn't have a young person like that focusing on social media and that's so important so what does she do does she do all your websites and posting for you um she does some of the posting I also got another girl because she's got gotten busy and then a business of things that I I don't have time for that I get emails so she checked all that and uh yeah and then the trip that picture with her was that the Hawaii uh tourist trade show uh but a month ago and yes and we did wonderful uh chef Alan Wong came by and said hi and said he was proud of me oh that was very good but I see you um behind that devil give up I keep thinking you remind me of emerald does I don't know you you kept saying us the same thing I mean I was sat by your side for the whole trade show so I could have done your show with you or for you because like no emerald went bam right and you could hear you promote what you were doing but it was the passion that drove people to your table and then of course the smells and then um they tasted it and then I don't want to say they were clogged but they were pretty much addicted to the flavor with no labor so too shame for you you hit it on the nail especially in these times but more and more people need to turn back to healthy and eating healthy is so important that you can just put something on it and it tastes good off the bat that's great that's what we're all looking for right absolutely yeah hi so ever since I've known you you always had a passion for cooking as I said you were the family to me so I know that you also love to teach and share this message of health with cakeies so tell us how how do you go about doing this with the cakey nobody well um there's um I don't have you heard of the kakua Hawaii foundation it started by Jack Johnson and his wife and they're passionate about what my passion is teaching cakeies about the land how to take care of the land and to grow vegetables and um and they love it I just did one for the Kahala school um and the kids are so eager and when they learn how to cook their own vegetables they eat it and they yeah because they see they they see how it takes to plant it to harvest it and then when they cook it and they just and they all you know they're all so into it and I just love children I think you you need to start off with teaching the cakeies and when they grow up they're going to be healthier and they're going to eat healthier and you know I tell them it's okay once in a while to eat fast food but not hardly don't you know don't do it often just eat more the good so Kai well we promote with uh with all of us on cakey and adults is like the 80 20 rule you eat 80 healthy and 20 of the time you can be naughty and you can have that that extra bag of chips or you know something but it's 80 20 rule as long as your majority of your intake is healthy your body will be rewarded by good overall performance and good health so yeah you're spot on with that like you said when they grow it they understand the value though eat it but making it taste good is the other value of not just growing it and just eating lettuce or bok choy but if you have the right spices to add to it to make it a more palatable that that's the other half for the kids they can grow it they can cook it they'll love it and then you're creating more Ellen Wong's yeah absolutely and they're all in the last class at least about five of the children wanted to be chefs and they they were just so happy we gave we gave the spices as a as a gift wow what a nice gift go home with that right absolutely they loved it well I know that you also have another Wendy in your life um you're one of your dear friends Wendy as well it takes a great person to have great friends and I know every time I see you there you have great friends around you so Wendy is a dear friend so tell us um how does she get involved with all your projects um Wendy has been so supportive of of me since I started um and she helps me with things that I don't understand you know like contracts a lot of them and uh just being there and being uh you know to listen when I maybe start about something or even when I'm happy about something and we friends about 40 years and um yes she was at my book my um I had a cookbook I had lunch a cookbook about 10 years ago and she was there uh yeah I think he had a photo of her and this dish too I made for the cake piece and they all love it the curry fried rice with cranberries uh yes and that's what I do in all my demos when you see me that's what people in the smell the smell and then you know what not only the smell but when you draw them in with the smell and they see it it's pretty because you got that golden color of rice and then you got the red cranberries and I think I've even seen it on your card you have fresh mango in there too yes we won um we won this dish at the Moana stir-fried mango festival about I don't know seven years ago with me so now that it's next season folks you can add mango to your curry fried rice with cranberries wow that's that's amazing and it makes it makes it even more wet and sweet and more popping of flavors so you got it and then congratulations on the award of winning at the mango festival that's another feat for you that's great thank you we won twice a second time with a chicken curry uh chicken curry salad with mango oh brilliant brilliant you know I've grown to love chicken salad uh curry so you know maybe some some time and I'll I'll see how it pairs up okay I'll get a touch oh yeah so you know our passions for saving the cakey by teaching them to eat healthy and just keeping um our just keeping them healthy and on on track teaching them how to cook healthy is always the right direction you know it I know it so you better keep on going don't stop every time a school comes your way please just continue to say I'll do it I'll be there but what is your favorite part about going to the schools with all these cakeies just well my favorite part is showing them something that I know that is important for them that that to teach them about loving the land and planting and uh eating healthy and I see their faces they're so eager and I always say to chefs if you cook good food the children would love it because I would do demos and and they say oh my child won't eat that and you know what Wendy they eat it and the reason why they eat it because it tastes good they feel that openness and the flavor of the healthy cooking so yes and that's what I I just love them they're so eager to learn and I want to teach them I just love children yeah so you know like like you were just saying some children they just don't want to eat vegetables and they just have nothing to do with it um I was never like that um how would you I mean just get them to think out of the box you know the parents I mean yes you have the great flavors of your seasoning but what if the kid didn't like curry okay just let's say and um what how would how else would you encourage parents to get their kids to eat healthy um well I always tell even the children I said try it first before you say no and what I learned too when let's say there'll be one child in class that doesn't want to try it I this happened many times and all the kids love try it and love it like a smoothie we made a smoothie and the kid didn't it was a green smoothie and since all the kids were loving it and going some were asking for a second she decided okay well she was like missing out you're pressure that's what I tell parents let your child eat it first and then if they really don't like it then you don't have to force them right think they won't like it they're the ones that put it in their children's head just cook it just cook it and cook a good meal not packaged not ass food from scratch and using our spices I'm telling you it just gives it flavor and the kids will love it I it's happened to me all the time so you know and you're exact you hit it on the nail because a lot of the times the kid is looking at the parent's face when the kid the parent doesn't like take like a kale smoothie or kale and the parents um you give the parent a kale smoothie and they're like oh no thank you so then the kid thinks it must be bad I don't like it either they even try it right yeah but the neatest part is you you mask it with fruit and kale and all the great things in there right and then you know then the kid likes it and then like really so then we have to train the parents as well to eat healthy so that their cake you can eat healthy and they got a better start and a chance of survival in this in this fast food world exactly because as you know there's health insurance is so expensive so if we stay healthy and also we got to throw in in the exercise I exercise as well as eat spices every day and I cook all the time I have a husband who loves to eat and stay home so and I love to entertain and cook dinner for my friends and family and I do all kinds of themed dinners and yes so if we stay the course eat right exercise we don't need to worry about health insurance and being unhealthy as we get older we don't have to get older and be unhealthy and the other part too ladies out there when you eat healthy you are what you eat and so I believe that beauty is skin deep meaning that the better quality of food that you put into your body that means a better quality that you'll see on your face and so that it doesn't matter how expensive the makeup you use but if you're doing the right things internally it truly truly makes a difference and I can attest to that and so can Kai and look at how beautiful and radiant she looks because of her choice of diet and so I'm just I'm just so excited that last Friday I walked into down to earth and there you were in kakaako so I saw you standing behind the table the demo table doing exactly what you did when I first met you so I said hey girl I see all your healthy list of food behind you I see everything that you're doing and it's years later that you're still doing it um I said hey would you come on and just share with the people how to eat healthy to manage a healthy lifestyle have flavor without labor because don't we all want it's simple right and so when you said yeah I love you and we can call it when you eat healthy you will be healthy I'm like yeah and then we're getting all excited because we're on crack or something but we were just high on quality of good quality of food so let my spices be your medicine in your kitchen right that's my that's my motto yes you truly walk the talk because you use all those spices I mean not just one or two but I can I can taste all the aromatic flavors in your spices and I just appreciate you for making that because I did have a girl from Sri Lanka come to me and she took me to the Indian spice store OMG we had to buy like about 20 different bags of spices to make one rice dish I'm like that was before you and so I know the cost and the value what you're doing we don't have to buy all those bags of spices because it's all in one bag that you got so I appreciate you Kai truly appreciate you so you have anything that you want to end because we've run out of time for today so is there anything you want to just stay real quick just eat healthy be healthy and think positive and enjoy what God has given us amen so we just want to say mahalo to Kai of Kailani spices for sharing her passion with Hawaii and the world and for making life so much easier for all of us so we'll be back in two weeks with taking your health back with Wendy low mahalo Kai mahalo think tech Hawaii will see you in two weeks thank you so much for watching think tech Hawaii if you like what we do please like us and click the subscribe button on youtube and the follow button on vimeo you can also follow us on facebook instagram twitter and linked in and donate to us at think.kawaii.com mahalo