Hala Tree Café, a Kona coffee roaster turned brick-and-mortar café, quietly kicked off its soft opening in Waikīkī on Friday, June 19, 2026. The new spot is tucked inside The Lilia Waikīkī and is gearing up for a grand opening on July 1. The move follows the closure of the brand's original Kaʻaʻawa shop and brings a larger bakery program and new island-forward drinks into the middle of the tourist corridor.
Flagship Grand Opening And Farm-to-Cup Focus
Hala Tree has set July 1 as the official grand opening date for its Waikīkī flagship, after a planned soft-opening run through mid June. According to Hala Tree Coffee, the café is designed as a "welcoming retreat" where the company can spotlight its vertically integrated, farm-to-cup program built around 100 percent Kona coffee.
Signature Drinks And House Baked Goods
As reported by Aloha State Daily, the Waikīkī menu pairs classic espresso drinks with seasonal specials like the hibiscus fizz ($9), Cascara Cola ($7) and a summer spritzer ($7), along with matcha and a purple-sweet-potato "Uala" latte. The outlet also details a soft-opening pastry case stocked with croissants, almond croissants, cruffins, financiers, crème brûlée danishes and quiche Lorraine, and notes that the original Kaʻaʻawa shop has closed as the brand shifts its focus to Waikīkī. General manager Brian Webb told Aloha State Daily that the Cascara Cola "tastes just like Coca-Cola" and that a six-person barista crew is on deck.
On-site Bakery Led By An Award-winning Pastry Chef
According to Hala Tree Coffee, the Waikīkī café includes a full on-site bakery run by Abigail Langlas, whose résumé spans Alan Wong's, Neiman Marcus and her longtime Honolulu bakery Cake Works. Founders Jean and Danielle Orlowski say the buildout is meant to let both visitors and locals experience the family's farm-to-cup process up close.
What The Opening Means For Waikīkī
As covered by Sprudge, the company announced its Waikīkī plans in May, framing the café as the next step in its island-wide growth. The move drops a small-batch Kona roaster into the heart of Waikīkī's visitor district, giving both travelers and kamaʻāina more direct access to a true Kona coffee experience.
Hours And Visiting Tips
As reported by Aloha State Daily, the café soft-opened on June 19 with limited hours from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., is set to operate from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting June 21, and will open daily from 6 a.m. after the July 1 grand opening. For updates on rotating pastries and seasonal drinks, the outlet lists the café's Instagram handle as @halatreecoffee.
Waikīkī's Hala Tree Café offers a chance to taste single-origin Kona at scale, paired with pastry and drink experiments that reflect the farm behind each cup. Expect busy mornings while the team finds its rhythm in the new space and a steady stream of seasonal specials in the weeks after opening.
