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1927 |
Ellen Dye Candies opens as a small candy shop in Honolulu. The company is the first confectioner to dip macadamia nuts into chocolate.
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1950s |
While working at his family's business, Star Ice and Soda Works on Maui, a young Mamoru Takitani dreams of inventing a new candy sensation. After putting in a hard day's work, he and his wife Aiko head to the attic and experiment by blending different kinds of chocolates. After perfecting the taste he craved, Takitani began dipping macadamia nuts into his secret blend of chocolate, thus creating a sensation on Maui.
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1959 |
Mamoru Takitani makes a promise to his family that if he can't make a profit in five years, he will return to the family business.
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| 1960 |
Takitani moves to Oahu after purchasing Ellen Dye Candies and renames the company, Hawaiian Host. The new company opens for business with six employees. In the first month, the company makes $800 in sales, but has $1,600 in expenses. Takitani's goal: to sell 100 cases a day, so that his wife can join him in Honolulu. He also enlists an art teacher friend to design a logo for Hawaiian Host, a tiki, which has since become one of the most widely recognized symbols in Hawaii.
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| 1965 |
Hawaiian Host incorporates.
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| 1973 |
The company expands to a 25,000 square-foot building in Honolulu.
The company expands into Asian markets, first to Japan.
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| 1970s |
Hawaiian Host introduces MacNut Crunch, its macadamia nut chocolates enhanced with the addition of crisp rice.
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| 1980 |
The company sets up a separate, large candy-making factory in Gardena, California.
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| 1981 |
Hawaiian Host opens the M.A.T. (initials of Mamoru and Aiko Takitani) Trading Company in Japan, an import/distribution company for its products in Japan.
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| 1983 |
Hawaiian Host introduces Maui Caramacs, a delicious taste sensation, by combining chocolate, macadamia nuts and creamy caramel.
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| 1984 |
Hawaiian Host begins sponsorship of the Hawaiian Moving Company, a popular, locally produced entertainment show on CBS-affiliate KGMB-TV.
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| 1991 |
The company introduces Butter Glazed Popcorn with Macadamia Nuts.
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| 1993 |
The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation starts a legacy of awarding scholarships to outstanding students at every qualifying private and public high school throughout Hawaii. Since its inception to the present, the Foundation has awarded more than $900,000 in scholarships.
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| 1996 |
Hawaiian Host moves its corporate headquarters and production operations to a new 67,000 square-foot facility in the Iwilei district of Honolulu. The facility features state-of-the-art manufacturing machinery, more than doubling its production capacity to meet the growing demand for "Hawaii's Gift to the World"
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| 1998 |
Hawaiian Host introduces Christmas gift baskets.
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| 1999 |
Hawaiian Host unveils its website, providing a new opportunity to share "Hawaii's Gift to the World". The company begins updating its packaging to reflect the brand and the customer experience of its products.
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| 2000 |
Hawaiian Host introduces Toffee MacNut Crunch, enhancing the MacNut Crunch with sweet, buttery toffee. The company receives a Certificate of Merit from the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau's Keep It Hawaii Awards Program.
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| 2001 |
Hawaiian Host debuts its Jewel Collection, an assortment of the best chocolate covered macadamias and almonds.
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| 2002 |
The company introduces ToffeeMacs, featuring buttery toffee and premium macadamias covered in chocolate. Hawaiian Host launches its premium line of macadamias featuring wholes and halves, available as lightly salted and unsalted.
Hawaiian Host introduces its new tagline: Genuine. Classic. Original.(tm) Since 1927.
M.A.T. Trading Company changes its name to Hawaiian Host Japan, Inc.
Hawaiian Host receives a Maile Award from the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau for outstanding contributions to the Hawaii community.
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| 2003 |
Hawaiian Host debuts Hawaiian Honey Coated Whole Macadamias, featuring premium whole macadamias coated with pure Hawaiian honey and enrobed in chocolate.
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| 2004 |
Hawaiian Host launches Honey Glazed Macadamias, premium whole macadamias dipped in Hawaiian honey.
The company launches its premium Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamias.
Hawaiian Host introduces Sugar Free Milk Chocolate Macadamia Clusters, Sugar Free MacNut Crunch and Sugar Free Dark Chocolate Macadamia Clusters.
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| 2005 |
Introduction of Hawaiian Host Harmoni.
Hawaiian Host debuts Harmoni chocolates, dry roasted macadamias immersed in dark chocolate and rice crisps and enrobed in milk chocolate.
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| 2006 |
Hawaiian Host launches its Indulgent Stand Up Box and Indulgent Square Box, new packaging designs with personal-sized quantities for keeping rather than giving away.
Hawaiian Host launches its new premium gift offering, Macadamia Medley, which includes an assortment of Maui Caramacs, decadent dark chocolate with whole macadamias, signature macadamias covered in our secret milk chocolate blend, and delightful MacNut Crunch pieces. |
