Conversations with Laurie Pelekai

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurie Pelekai.

Hi Laurie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey began in 1970 when I was 10 years old and started cooking and baking in my Aunty Berta’s kitchen in Manhattan Beach. She supported me in exploring recipes and allowed me to expand my culinary talents. My Ohana enjoyed everything I made but I really found baking to be my passion. My culinary skills improved over the years and I started creating my own recipes to share with Ohana and friends.

In 2011, my Aunty Ochie, who lives in Molokai HI, came to visit our Ohana and whipped up some lilikoi butter. The flavor was so delectable and reminded me of summers spent with my grandma Helen on our family homestead in Hoolehua, Molokai. My grandma used to take us every morning to pick fresh lilikoi and together we would make lilikoi juice, the flavor was unreal. I asked my Aunty for the recipe and she gladly shared it with one request; not to share it with anyone else. I agreed and have kept the Ohana recipe safeguarded.

I started making the lilikoi butter to give as gifts to Ohana and friends. It eventually led to people requesting more lilikoi butter for themselves and their Ohanas and friends. The requests for lilikoi butter continued to grow and I was invited by a friend to a local craft fair to sell the butter. The response was overwhelming and that started a whole new wave of customers and demand for the lilikoi butter. I started doing craft shows and island fairs and decided on the business name Likohina’s Tropical Butters.

“Likohina” is a Hawaiian name given to me by my brother DJ after he had a dream. “Liko” in Hawaiian generally means bud or newly opened leaf, reflecting the significance of nature and growth. “Hina” is the goddess of the moon and Molokai was born to Hina, which is my birthplace. In astrology, I’m ruled by the moon being born on the 29th. Likohina was a name created by my brother DJ and I’m very proud that it is synonymous to me.

After the lilikoi butter took off I thought, what if I were to create a different flavor. I created guava butter and that became just as popular as lilikoi butter. I thought about other tropical flavors specific to Hawaii and pineapple butter was added. Likohina’s Tropical Butters became well known in the South Bay and in the Polynesian community. But in 2015, I started another business and Likohina’s Tropical Butters was put on pause.

Fast forward to 2019 when Covid hit. I shut down my business and life became a blur with the pandemic. I decided to go back to work in the medical field.

In 2021 life started to resume after Covid and I was invited by a close friend to a Foodie Market he was hosting in Carson. He requested to bring back the butters everyone had been asking about. People were always requesting the butters and decided to give it a go. That market was the revival of Likohina’s Tropical Butters. People were kindly expressing how happy they were to have the butters available again. I started getting invited to so many events, shows and island fairs. During the weekdays I’d work my 9-5 job and weekends sell Likohina’s Tropical Butters.

I continued to create more flavors and currently offer 10 flavors: lilikoi, guava, pineapple, Kona coffee, ube, mango, coconut, maple, matcha and pan dan. In 2024 I retired and devoted my time to my butter business. That same year I was approached by Melrose Trading Post to be a part of their new food court at the flea market. After meeting with the coordinators and sampling the butters, I was offered a residency which was every Sunday at Fairfax High School.

In 2025 I’ve done 30+ shows including the Kala Koa Entertainment Slack Key Festival and Ukulele Festival, Ho’oilina Foundation Heritage of Aloha Festival, Ho’olaule’a San Diego, HICCSC Ho’olaule’a Alondra Park, Tasty Hawaiian and Aloha All Ways Kapena & Friends Concert and the Surf Guitar 101 Festival. Likohina’s Tropical Butters was also the first Torrance Craftsmen’s Guild pre-packaged food vendor accepted as a member.

Likohina’s Tropical Butters is my legacy and a tribute to our Native Hawaiian heritage. It is with the spirit of Aloha that I honor those who have blessed me in my journey and supported me along the way. I dedicate this story to my Ohana who remains my love, hope and strength, I could not have done this without you. Mahalo for letting me share my story, much Aloha.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest obstacle was Covid. For the most part the road has been smooth with the help and support of my vendor friends & Ohana.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Although I’ve had my own direct sales business with Rainbow Vaccuums and worked in the healthcare industry with LA Care, I’m most proud of the branding of Likohina’s Tropical Butters.

Our butters are very unqiue, unlike any other product on the market. Each flavor has its own signature taste that can be easily identified by sampling. Lilikoi butter may be packaged and marketed by other companies in Hawaii, but what sets us apart is the variety of flavors we offer. All of the butters are prepared and packaged in my home kitchen and marketed directly to the public and through social media. Our grass roots business has grown vastly due to using quality ingredients, offering tantilizing flavors and through innovative marketing.

Our butters can be used for cooking, baking, frying and grilling. Some popular options are spreading on toast, pancakes, waffles, muffins, biscuits, french toast, layer cakes, poured over ice cream and popcorn, added to oatmeal or yogurt, blended as a smoothie, milkshake or margarita, rubbed on a steak, used as a glaze for fish, marinated on chicken, stir frying shrimp or scallops, added to a charcuterie board. Many of our customers have created their own recipes which they share on our social media pages.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
The success of Likohina’s Tropical Butters could not have been accomplished without the help and support from my Ohana. My sister Darlene and brother DJ have been there by my side from the beginning and continue to stand as my pillars of support and strength, They’ve been there to help me set up during my pop up events and do all the heavy loading of equipment. My daughters Kye and Bianca also help with the loading of my product to shows or come to help work my pop ups. My many Ohana vendor friends also provide physical and emotional support during events and just make everything fun!

Pricing:

• $14.00 for 1-8 oz. container of butter
• $26.00 for 2-8 oz. containers of butter
• $36.00 for 3-8 oz. containers of butter
• $44.00 for 4-8 oz. containers of butter
• $50.00 for 5-8 oz. containers of butter

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @likohina529
• Facebook: Likohina’s Tropical Butters