“We are small, but a mighty team of four” — Alejandro Hinojosa
Texas Border Business –
By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez,
McAllen, Texas – May 2015 – Maui Wowi Hawaiian welcomes father-daughter team Alejandro Hinojosa, owner and manager and Pamela Hinojosa-Arce, manager as the company’s newest franchisees. Located in South Texas, the Hinojosas plan to bring paradise Maui Wowi Hawaiian Smoothies & Coffees to the Rio Grande Valley and open up new avenues for success and growth with this family-built business.
Alejandro is the owner of a successful electrical contracting business and has grown it over the past 13 years with the help of his daughter. Pamela’s dream was to become a lawyer but after working in the industry, she realized she wanted to be involved with something that made her happy and would provide her with the flexibility to raise a family.
She and Alejandro make a great team and say they understand what it takes to run a business.
“I know the importance of commitment and hard work, and I thought that business had to be a very serious environment… that was until we found Maui Wowi. We are so happy to have found a business that can be a balance of hard work and family time,” says Alejandro. “Maui Wowi offers a work environment where we can be happy and that is the most important thing in life.”
Their plan is to open a kiosk near South Padre Island; an area where the warm weather and laidback culture thrive. During the process of opening a kiosk, the Hinojosas don’t want to waste any time. Alejandro and Pamela will also operate a mobile event unit, known as the Ka’anapali Cart that can go to events, venues, festivals, and more all across the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.
Currently Maui Wowi Smoothies & Coffees has a temporary office at 816 E. Mile 4 Rd., Palmhurst, Texas. “This is for the time being, but we are hoping for our fixed location to be up and running very soon,” said Alejandro to Texas Border Business.
In addition he said that they are looking forward to opening a store by the end of this year. He said, “In the meantime, we will be serving the Rio Grande Valley at events, festivals, and fairs from our two mobile Ka’anapali Carts.”
Alejandro said that they are a small but mighty team of four and looking to hire more employees once they open the first fixed retail location. Alejandro has been married to Eusebia for the last thirty years and they have three children one of them is Pamela.
Pamela is married to Pedro Arce who she met while working with him at BBVA Compass bank in 2008. She said, “We reconnected again in 2011 and married in 2013 and we have one child, Pedro, Jr.”
According to them, the uniqueness of their franchise business is that Maui Wowi is unlike any other beverage concept that brings the tastes of Hawaii to the Mainland. Alejandro said, “Customers can visit a Maui Wowi location and be instantly transported to paradise, without the expensive airfare. Our products are top-notch.”
Pamela said, “We offer all-natural, kosher certified, gluten-free smoothies, most of which are fat-free. Our coffees are made using premium roast Hawaiian beans from the islands of Maui, Molokai, Kauai, and from the Kona District on the Big Island.”
Their plan for the immediate future is to establish their business in the Rio Grande Valley and work to secure a fixed retail location. Pamela, “We will work events within the community using our mobile carts to serve fresh smoothies and Hawaiian coffees. Our long-term goal is to expand our business to include multiple stores and carts so that everyone can enjoy the delicious Maui Wowi products!”
Since 1982, Maui Wowi Hawaiian has embraced the Hawaiian culture and has been serving paradise in a cup since the day it began, over 30 years ago. From event carts, mall kiosks and stand-alone retail locations, Maui Wowi Hawaiian offers premium, all-natural, gluten-free, fresh-fruit smoothies, as well as gourmet Hawaiian coffees and espresso beverages.
The company maintains strong community involvement through fundraising efforts by its franchisees, in addition to Team Karma, an initiative that promotes corporate responsibility and giving back to the community. The brand has more than 450 operating units in seven countries. TBB
