Looking for the launch? The seventy-four photographs from the company’s press launch at The Pacific Club in June 1998 have a gallery of their own.
Tall Palms in the Poi Company Garden
We purchased the empty lot next door to the PoiCo factory (745 Kopke Street) and planted lots of mature palm trees, etc. Of course, in Hawaii they grow like crazy.
The Poi Company Factory and Garden
The factory (at 749 Kopke Street) and the "garden" parking lot at 745 Kopke Street. The garden we planted was really starting to grow at this stage.
Poi Company Garden
The hibiscus plants and palm trees in The Poi Company garden at 745 Kopke Street. The front of the large, refrigerated PoiCo truck is in the distance.
Poi Products Stand
K-Mart and Marukai both wanted us to build our own stands to group Poi Company products together. This is the protype that John Bushby built in the factory.
March 2001 Poi Company Cartoon
We put a cartoon on our invoices each month -- created by Noel Ford in the UK. This is the cartoon for March 2001.
March 2002 Poi Company Cartoon
This is the monthly invoice cartoon for March 2002 --- for The Poi Company invoices.
February 2002 Poi Company Cartoon
This is the monthly invoice cartoon for February 2002, created by the talented Noel Ford. These cartoons were used on the PoiCo invoices.
December 2001 Poi Company Cartoon
The release of our freeze-dried (not dehydrated) poi coincided with Christmas 2001. A perfect theme for Noel Ford to create his monthly cartoon, used on The Poi Company invoices.
April 2001 Poi Company Cartoon
Easter eggs were the theme for Noel Ford's monthly Poi Company cartoon, used on our invoices. This is the cartoon for April 2001.
Poi Cheesecake Packaging
We had this bright top designed for the Poi Cheesecake by a talented designer in Turkey (of all places) but never had a chance to print it or implement this on the cheesecake.
Art Deco Poi Painting
We purchased the original of this painting on eBay and used it on our luxury poi packaging. It reminds me of the old Matson menu covers.
Woman's World Article on Poi - August 2001
This article described poi as a bit of a miracle diet food, and we received many telephone calls from people who simply wanted poi. While the article is true, it left out some of the more important facts about the "poi diet" --- you can't simply eat whatever you wantandpoi and expect to lose weight. Unfortunately, it just doesn't work like that.
Marjorie and Cathy at the Show
American Culinary Federation show at the Hilton Waikoloa Hotel, Hawaii, January 2001
Marjorie and Cathy Talking to the Chefs About Poi
American Culinary Federation (ACF) show at the Hilton Waikoloa Show, January 2001.
Preparing The Poi Company Float for the Parade
PoiCo had a flower-covered float in the Kamehameha Day Parade, 13 June 1998, designed by Owen Ho. Marjorie and Lorna Lowe are at work with the flowers, while Aimoku takes a beer break.
Poi Company Parking Lot and Garden
The "garden" at 745 Kopke Street, next to The Poi Company factory at 749 Kopke Street, Honolulu.
Aimoku, Marjorie, Owen Ho, and Dorien With The Poi Banner
Marjorie and I walked the length of the Kamehameha Day Parade -- from Iolani Palace to Kapiolani Park -- with this banner, in front of The Poi Company floral float.
Promotional Photograph for Poi Dog T-Shirt
Promotional Photograph for Poi Dog T-Shirt
Sarah, Kevin and Steve at a Poi Company Booth
We did lots of these shows --- so many that I don't even recognise this booth.
Poi Company Product Promotional Shot
A Camera Hawaii photograph of Poi Bagels, Poi English Muffins, Macadamia Nut Butter, and Lomi Lomi Salmon Cream Cheese.
Planting The Poi Company Garden and Parking Lot
Makai of the factory -- the garden was at 745 Kopke Street, Honolulu
poicohist
poicohist
poicohist Topaz
PoiCo - Poi Company Cheesecake
Poi Company Cheesecake
Downstairs at Kopke Street
Many an hour spent here.
Downstairs at Kopke Street
Downstairs at Kopke Street
Romaco Grinder and Groen Cooker
Boy did this equipment give us grief...!
Looking towards the peeling room
Looking towards the peeling room
2nd Floor Office
We spent many an hour here --- watched 9-11 and the disputed Presidential election on TV while we battled with MAS90
2nd Floor Offices
A lot of good the secuity cameras and monitor did --- all they enabled us to do was video tape the staff stealing. Auwe!
2nd Floor Packing Room
Was this room ever hot. And did our packing colleagues ever move slowly?
2nd Floor Office
I think I spent about two hours a week trying to keep this a/c working.
Receptionist's Desk
Remember the hours Sophie spent here?
Our maneki nekko
The cat, when facing the door, should bring good luck and good fortune. Well, so much for that theory. This one certainly didn't work.
Miscellaneous Poi Stuff
Miscellaneous Poi Stuff
The red door
I read somewhere that a red door brings good luck. In our case, the red door attracted red ink.
Blodgett Oven
Many a poi dog biscuit and poi cheesecake cooked here.
The peeling room
What did they do in this room anyway?
Big Poi Truck
Big Poi Truck
Other side of Big Poi Truck
We had different pictures on the two sides of the truck, so it looked like it was two trucks.
Cathy's Departure from Hawaii
Cathy's Departure from Hawaii
Floor Decal
This floor decal cost us a huge amount of money, and I think the store was so worried that people would slip on it that they had it removed within a few days.
Cathy's Departure - Honolulu Airport
Is Stanley sad, or happy, to see her go?
Cathy's Departure from Hawaii
Cathy's Departure from Hawaii
Poi Company Cheesecake
Poi Company Cheesecake
Baby Expo Poi Booth
All the trouble to get baby rabbits (we rented them). Put them on beautiful fresh green turf. And all they did was sleep.
Baby Expo Poi Booth
John Bushby did a great job with all those primary colours and big letters.
Our Gay Pride Parade Float
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" meets "Tiny Bubbles" --- down Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki
Bill Meyers and the taro pile
Bill Meyers and the taro pile
Gay Pride PoiCo Float - Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu
Gay Pride PoiCo Float - Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu
Filename:
poi logo smaller.jpg
In the taro patch
In the taro patch
Taro Lo`i
Taro Lo`i
Brooke and Poi T-Shirt
We were contacted by E! television. They were filming a "Wild on Waikiki" program, and wanted a taro lo`i in town. We explained that most lo`i were on the neighbor islands, but that we had a small one (about 10 sq. ft.) in our parking lot. The taro plants in our mini-lo`i were purchased at Home Depot. But our mini lo`i was graced by Brooke, and appeared in the E! program.
Greg, our Poi Boy
Enjoying some two finger Poi Company poi
Romaco Grinder
Used to grind the poi --- a whole cook could be processed in less than 10 minutes. Creamy smooth.
Hobart taro peeler
Whenever I see or even think of this taro peeler, I can't help but remember Francisco hunched over it with the taro. He'd open the little hatch door on the side, and filthy water loaded with bits of taro and dirt would go flying all over the ladies in the peeling room. This would happen dozens of times each day, but the ladies never seemed to mind.
Poi Bag
It was almost impossible to get a good photograph of the humble poi bag. Romeo at Camera Hawaii tried all of his considerable skills, and we were happy with the outcome.
Poi Christmas Tree
Saundra Smith made little poi bags, complete with purple filling, for our Christmas tree at the Caroline Craft Fair. We had people purchasing the bags off the tree. Mele Kalikimaka.
Poi Happens Baseball Cap
The caps were great, but they were difficult to sell. Most people (including me) think that a baseball cap is really a gimme cap --- as in "gimme, for free."
BBC Good Food Show, NEC
We tried to bring poi to the world --- including the British. Here's our booth at the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC in 2001. Unfortunately, it was just too expensive to ship poi from Hawaii to the U.K.
Bury (U.K.) Poi Demo
Bury (U.K.) Poi Demo
Bury (U.K.) Poi Demonstration
Bury (U.K.) Poi Demonstration
Caroline Christmas Craft Show
Many and many an hour were spent at the Blaisdell Center doing these shows. The Caroline show was one of the best, because it always attracted a big crowd.
PoiCo Factory - Kopke Stret
The folks at Camera Hawaii did a great job of removing the unsightly low telephone and power cables, and even the neighbor's house. We also had a saleslady who worked for us this day only, and they removed her completely. Gone in a stroke of the Photoshop brush.
Gone Fishin' T-shirt
Gone Fishin' T-shirt
Poi Flour
We took fresh poi, dehydrated it and ground into poi flour. Ono licious.
John's Waterfall - Food & New Product Show
John Bushby made us the most wonderful POI waterfall using plywood and his favorite foam stuff. The POI letters glowed with a green light from below. It was truly magnificent.
Get Ready Here it Comes
Our poi dog treat t-shirt
Poi Boy with Maile Lei
Poi Boy with Maile Lei
Taro from Honduras
This is the arrival of our sample taro from Honduras. We went to great pains to export Hawaiian huli to the folks at FHIA in Honduras, but nothing really came of this. The taro made decent, but not wonderful, poi.
Honduras Taro, Leaving Honduras
Honduras Taro, Leaving Honduras
Marjorie and the Orchid Lei
We discovered that we could purchase vanda orchid leis very inexpensively on Maunakea Street. So we started offering a free lei with every internet order over a certain threshold.
Marukai Shelves
Here is our product display shelf at Marukai. They loved demos and sold a lot of product when we had people there. But when the demo was over, the sales fell.
NASFT Fancy Food Show - New York City
This was a hugely expensive show to do, and we were down in the basement somewhere. Purchasers were looking for things that were familiar to them --- and that wasn't poi.
NASFT - San Francisco - 2002
Although the NASFT Show in New York City wasn't a huge success for us, we hoped we'd have better luck in San Francisco. The booth was partially subsidized by the State of Hawaii, and we thought the folks in California would be more receptive to poi. Oh, well.
Our new poi products --- from the newspaper
Our new poi products --- from the newspaper
Pet Expo Booth
I loved doing the Pet Expo. They let dogs, etc., into the Blaisdell Center. People are, I think, happier when there are dogs around. I know I am.
Poi English Muffins & Macadamia Nut Butter
Poi English Muffins & Macadamia Nut Butter
Poi Pounder, Poi and Taro
Poi Pounder, Poi and Taro
Greg in the Lo`i
Greg in the Lo`i
Taro at Macy's
When we did the NASFT Show, we were surprised to find a variant of taro growing in one of the planters in front of Macy's in New York City. With Marjorie and Sarah Heward.
Punahou Carnival "O" Men
The "O" Men were very gracious about allowing us to sell our poi products at the Punahou Carnival. Of course, we gave them 100% of the proceeds. But it was a lot of fun, gave us good exposure, and was for a good cause.
Kauai Farm Fair
We had a booth at the Kauai Farm Fair three years running. It was always a pleasure to do this show --- the folks were so friendly, and they really enjoyed our products. It's a shame we couldn't find a better distributor for our products on Kauai.
La at the Kauai Farm Fair
Handling out samples of our poi products. La seemed to know everyone who came by the booth.
Food and New Product Show
We always hated this show. Lots and lots of people, few buying anything. There for the free samples. John Bushby's waterfall was the best part of this show.
John Bushby's POI Waterfall
Food and New Product Show, Blaisdell Center
Steve Patch in the Parade, Kalakaua Avenue
Steve Patch in the Parade, Kalakaua Avenue
Working at the Food & New Product Show
Blaisdell Center
Bags of Taro - PoiCo Reefer
When we couldn't sell poi, we got taro by the truckload. When poi was in demand, we couldn't get taro. Auwe!
Peeled taro, waiting to be made into poi
Peeled taro, waiting to be made into poi
Taro on the loading dock, arriving from the farmers
Taro on the loading dock, arriving from the farmers
Freeze Dried Poi at the Outrigger Canoe Club
Great packaging, great product. Where were the sales?
Poi Company Gift Basket
Poi Company Gift Basket
Shane and Dana at PoiCo "Wake"
Oahu Country Club, Honolulu
Mikell at PoiCo "Wake"
Mikell at PoiCo "Wake"
Demo Ladies at the PoiCo "Wake"
Demo Ladies at the PoiCo "Wake"
Lomi Lomi Salmon Cream Cheese
This dip was delicious. So much so that as I type this, we are trying to salt some salmon in the U.K. to make lomi lomi salmon....
Long Life Poi
Rudy Lee finally figured out how to make long life poi --- after we spent thousands on food technologists who couldn't help at all. Unfortunately, by this stage it was difficult to get taro, etc.
Poi Company Gift Box
These really looked great, and the products were great.
Poi Crackers
Poi Crackers
Greg as our Poi Boy
Greg as our Poi Boy
The Poi Girl
We got the bright idea (?) that it would be clever to create a "Poiboy" parody of "Playboy." Of course, to do so we needed a Playmate. We asked Camera Hawaii to do a G-rated version, and this is what they produced. You see less in this photograph than you see on any day at the beach, but this still didn't stop some people from complaining.
Poi Girl with Poi T-Shirt
Poi Girl with Poi T-Shirt
The Poi Girl
Another Camera Hawaii shot of the "playmate" for our Playboy parody. This is the shot we actually used on the cover of our brochure.
Poi Girl Showing Bag of Poi
Poi Girl Showing Bag of Poi
Poi Girl with Poi T-Shirt
Poi Girl with Poi T-Shirt
Poi Girl with Bag of Poi
Poi Girl with Bag of Poi
Poi Girl with Bag of Poi
Poi Girl with Bag of Poi
Poi Company - Kamehamea Day Parade, 2002
Great float, I thought. This was the second year of our participation. Marjorie, Cathy and I walked the whole parade route holding the POI banner.
Poi Gift Box
I think these looked smart and they contained nice poi goodies.
Poi Lavosh, Poi Dinner Rolls & Lomi Salmon Cream Cheese
These were great products. The lavosh (Armenian flat bread) was covered with macadamia nuts. The dinner rolls were light and fluffy. And the lomi lomi salmon cream cheese ... onolicious.
Kamehameha Day Float - 2001
Kamehameha Day Float - 2001
Cathy Bushby sitting on PoiCo Office Floor
Cathy Bushby sitting on PoiCo Office Floor
Marjorie with Her New Backpack
Marjorie with Her New Backpack
Marjorie and David Reed at the Blaisdell Center
One of the many shows (circa 1999) at the Blaisdell Center. We did so many of these shows it often felt like we lived there.
Blaisdell Center - 1999
David Reed selling poi bagels at the Blaisdell Center, 1999. Note that we didn't have the yellow labels yet: these must have been "early bagels."
Another Satisfied Customer
Holding a Baby at the Baby Show at the Blaisdell Center, 1999. Looks like the baby loves being held . . not.
John Bushby at the Baby Show, 1999
John taking a rest after building the excellent "alphabet" booth at the Baby Show, Blaisdell Center, 1999
Cathy Bushby - Baby Show, 1999
Cathy at the Blaisdell Center, 1999
Selling Poi Treats at the Punahou Carnival
Selling poi English muffins, poi bagels, and other poi goodies at the "O" Men booth at the Punahou Carnival, February 2002
A Bag Of Poi
With a dish of poi on the side, and taro leaves in the background.
Poi Swirl Bread
Poi Swirl Bread made for The Poi Company by Hawaii Star Bakery. This was Portuguese sweet bread "swirled" with purple poi bread. It made a delicious sandwich.
Natural Products Show - Anaheim, California
Marjorie staffing The Poi Company booth at the Natural Products Show in Anaheim. We brought all sorts of goodies --- from poi itself, to poi salad dressing and poi biscotti.
"Rockin' Rick" Kelly and Marjorie at The Poi Company Booth
Rick Kelly and a glum looking Marjorie at the Natural Products Show in Anaheim, California. The table is laden with all sorts of poi goodies. We'd purchased green gels for the lights at one of the Hollywood lighting companies, so the Poi logo banner was really glowing.
Marjorie at The Poi Company Booth in Anaheim, California
Marjorie at the booth at the Natural Products Show in Anaheim, California. We tried to sell poi itself --- and various poi goodies --- to health food stores on the mainland. On the whole they weren't interested.
Poi Company Delivery Van in New "Parking Lot"
We purchased the empty lot next to the factory and converted it into our parking lot and "garden."
Cathy at Breakfast at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
In her Poi Company uniform, getting ready to man our booth at the show.
PoiCo Factory 001 1
PoiCo Factory 001 1
PoiCo Factory 001 1
PoiCo Factory 001 1
PoiCo Factory 002 2
PoiCo Factory 002 2
PoiCo Factory 002 2
PoiCo Factory 002 2
PoiCo Factory 003 3
PoiCo Factory 003 3
PoiCo Factory 003 3
PoiCo Factory 003 3
PoiCo Factory 004 4
PoiCo Factory 004 4
PoiCo Factory 004 4
PoiCo Factory 004 4
PoiCo Factory 005 5
PoiCo Factory 005 5
PoiCo Factory 005 5
PoiCo Factory 005 5
PoiCo Factory 006 6
PoiCo Factory 006 6
PoiCo Factory 006 6
PoiCo Factory 006 6
PoiCo Factory 007 7
PoiCo Factory 007 7
PoiCo Factory 007 7
PoiCo Factory 007 7
PoiCo Factory 008 8
PoiCo Factory 008 8
The empty lot at 745 Kopke Street - How it looked when we bought it
There was a house here, years ago. When we bought it the lot was just overgrown and filled with weeds and trash. We leveled it and added a thick layer of topsoil.
PoiCo Factory 009 9
PoiCo Factory 009 9
PoiCo Factory 009 9
PoiCo Factory 009 9
PoiCo Factory 010 10
PoiCo Factory 010 10
PoiCo Factory 010 10
PoiCo Factory 010 10
PoiCo Factory 011 11
PoiCo Factory 011 11
PoiCo Factory 011 11
PoiCo Factory 011 11
PoiCo Factory 012 12
PoiCo Factory 012 12
Marjorie Walsh and John Bushby in the newly planted PoiCo parking lot and garden
745 Kopke Street in Kalihi
The PoiCo Garden - John Bushby even installed a sprinkler system
When we closed down the Poi Company these plants had all grown, particularly the Royal Palm. We even had a small taro patch. They are all gone now. It's just a parking lot.
One of the PoiCo trucks and the newly planted trees.
The royal palm in the foreground grew quite quickly.
Creating the parking lot and garden next to the Poi Company Factory
We didn't have sufficient parking on narrow Kopke Street in Kalihi, so we bought the adjacent empty lot to use as the parking lot -- but planted trees and other plants to bring some greenery and shade to the area. John Bushby hard at work, and one of the Poi trucks.
Inside the PoiCo offices on Kopke Street
The back of David Reed's head, Marjorie Walsh, and an exhausted looking John Bushby
The PoiCo Offices - Cathy Bushby and Marjorie Walsh
We spent a lot of time in that little office -- with the contested Presidential election and then the 9-11 attacks on the television. As I recall the TV was in the corner behind Cathy in this photograph -- so this must have been pre-TV.
David Reed and Cathy Bushby in the PoiCo Offices
PoiCo Headquarters on Kopke Street in Kalihi
John and Cathy Bushby celebrating Christmas (presumably 1999) at Craigside
Marjorie in her taro t-shirt -- and with her Hawaiian bracelets
A digital photo from 2000 -- it's pleasantly surprising how much digital photography has improved since then.
A poi-pounding demonstration
Location not recorded. The gentleman, sitting on the lauhala mat, is pounding the taro corms with a stone poi pounder. The taro plants, with corms still showing the dirt from the taro patch are in front of him.
Kapiolani Park Charity Dog Walk
Large crowds always attracted us -- an opportunity for us to bring Poi to the World. We demonstrated (and often sold) our poi products at these festivities, hoping that this would translate into retail sales at the grocery stores.
The Men Get Matching 2000 Aloha Shirts
New Year's Eve at the Oahu Country Club. L to R: Marjorie Walsh, Kevin Howdle, Steve Patch, Cathy Bushby, John Bushby
The charity dog walk sponsored by the Humane Society
PoiCo was, of course, there to sell our products -- and contribute the proceeds to the Humane Society.
PoiCo New Year's Celebration - 2000
Celebrating the start of a new millennium at the Oahu Country Club with our matching "2000" aloha shirts. Back row: Kevin Howdle, Craig Walsh. Front row: Steve Patch, John Bushby
Cathy and John Bushby Selling PoiCo Products
I can't remember the event -- but here are Cathy and John, setting up a table, and selling PoiCo products at Kapiolani Park.
New Year's 2000 at the Oahu Country Club
The PoiCo team celebrating the millennium at the Oahu Country Club -- From left to right: Craig Walsh, Marjorie Walsh, Kevin Howdle, Steve Patch, Cathy Bushby, John Bushby. Marjorie is holding a wooden box containing the ashes of Craig's father, John "Woody" Walsh, before they were interred at Punchbowl Memorial Cemetery.
Selling Poi Products (including ice cream) at Kapiolani Park
If there was an exhibition, show, festivity of any sort -- we were there with a booth or table, bringing Poi to the World. Here are Marjorie Walsh and Cathy and John Bushby selling poi products -- including poi ice cream -- at Kapiolani Park. I believe this was a "dog walk" sponsored by the Humane Society.