Doggie 3 coming to Pearlridge

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Jen Kunishima never imagined baking healthy snacks for her then-pregnant pooch four years ago would turn into this.

What started as a novelty four years ago in McCully has turned into a thriving business for Kuni-shima, who never had to put her law degree to use.

At Ward Warehouse, the bakery opened its second store in February 2001.

"Back then no malls wanted to have anything remotely to do with dogs," said Kunishima, who owns and runs the store with her sister Trudi Mahelona. "And now we're in two of the biggest malls in the state. It's really nice. I'm glad to see that people in retail are very receptive to doggie bakeries."

The new store will be in the Uptown section of the mall, next to The Disney Store.

Hawai'i Doggie Bakery & Gift Shop is one of just two businesses on O'ahu that bake up doggie treats on-site. (The other is Dino's Doggie Deli & Bakery in Kailua.)

Not only has its brand of healthy treats soared in popularity, its latest island-inspired dog apparel have been flying off the shelves.

Its aloha shirts ($25 to $32) are locally designed and made by Island Paws, a subsidiary of the bakery. The store, which debuted the line in November, carries seven prints, with a new print added every month.

"A stylish dog can't just have one," Kunishima said with a laugh.

She also sells Hawaiian-print neckerchiefs, carrying bags, collars and leashes. Soon she'll have island-style placemats and beds.

Kunishima never forgets what has made her store so successful: Dog owners and lovers — and their pooches.

So every weekend in the summer, bakery employees hit the doggie parks to distribute free treats to canines — a combination of giving back and saying thanks — in their Pounds For Hounds program.

This summer they are distributing more than 300 pounds of biscuits.

"It's really fun," Kunishima said. "Our whole mission is to get them out to the dogs."