Page 40 - Living Aloha Magazine 21 May April June 2017

LIVInG ALOHA Spotlight OAHu

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tasty vegan food with a

focus on local sustainability

by Living Aloha Staff

Malia Smith opened Ai Love Nalo last
August with two goals: to serve up local,
organic, healthy, and tasty meals, while
supporting local farmers who practice
sustainable farming methods.

Smith grew up on her grandmother’s farm in Nanakuli, “her
farm was sustainable way before anyone even knew what
sustainability was. It was just a natural part of simple, island
living”, says Smith.
Chefs Michael Whalen and Katie Dobkin were determined
to develop meals that could be enjoyed by meat-eaters, as
well as vegans and vegetarians. Take the “Oh Wow LauLau”
plate, which wraps slow-cooked local vegetables in luau
leaves, and is served with tofu poke. Whalen developed the
dish using his aunt’s traditional recipe. Their tofu is coated vegan hills hawaii.
with limu, onion, and furikake. • The most exquisite, gourmet food on the islands
I ordered the “Medi Bowl” - kalo falafel, baba ganoush, • Internationally-inspired chefs
beet hummus and millet tabouleh. It was heavenly. Ai Love • Natural, organic, and local
Nalo has a variety of smoothies filled with lots of nutritional • Asian and Western-style traditions
ingredients. “Daily Dose” is subtle and sweet with coffee, • Macrobiotic and Ayurvedic
coconut milk, dates, local apple bananas, and cacao. • Many of our creations can be made completely raw, gluten-free, and soy-free
Come and enjoy an authentic, plant-based meal that is made with love and is
The space itself is also a reflection of sustainability. The nourishing for your mind, body, and soul —while being sustainable and kind to
team spent three-and-a-half months to renovate the the environment that raised us all.
interior, using deconstructed building materials, locally
harvested wood, and reused equipment and furniture.
The restaurant utilizes zero-waste practices, providing
compostable to-go containers for a 50-cent fee, plus
compostable napkins, utensils, cups and straws, and uses
ecologically friendly cleaning materials.
They are showing that they can create business models
that emulate natural systems where there is no such thing
as waste. It’s all part of Smith’s vision to cultivate a warm,
welcoming community-oriented space that feeds both the
body and soul.
Ai Love Nalo
41-1025 Kalanianaole Highway
Waimanalo, Oahu, HI OPEN 8am uNtil 3Pm - 7 days a wEEk - brEakfast uNtil 10:30am - last OrdEr is at 2:15Pm
> SAturdAy SpecIAl BruncH Menu All dAy <
www.AiLoveNalo.com 3585 Waialae Avenue • Honolulu, HI 96816 www.veganhills-hi.com • 808-379-8919

40 OAHU Living Aloha | SUMMER 2017