Kona Ice of Central Hayward

What is the story behind your business' name?

My journey with Kona Ice began as a simple dream in 2024. My daughter already owned a Kona Ice franchise, and she would invite me to join her at events. I loved going with her — helping out, watching how everything worked, and most of all, seeing the excitement on the children’s faces. That’s truly where the idea was born. Standing beside her truck, surrounded by bright colors, music, and laughter, I started imagining myself doing the same. What touched my heart the most was watching the kids create their own shaved ice. They felt so proud mixing flavors at the Flavorwave, carefully choosing combinations, smiling from ear to ear. And when they saw the truck pull up — with its bold, tropical colors so uniquely Kona Ice — their eyes would light up. It wasn’t just about a frozen treat. It was about joy, creativity, and community. My daughter, seeing how much I loved it, excitedly invited me to become part of the Kona Ice family. I felt the same excitement in my heart, and in February 2025, I achieved that goal. That’s when I officially launched Kona Ice of Central Hayward. Since then, every event feels special to me. I truly enjoy bringing happiness to families and creating moments that children will remember. For me, this business is not only about serving shaved ice — it’s about serving smiles. I also feel inspired by how Kona Ice began. The company was founded in 2007 by Tony Lamb, who wanted to reinvent the traditional ice cream truck experience. He created something colorful, interactive, and community-focused. That vision grew into a nationwide brand that supports schools, local organizations, and neighborhoods across the country. Today, I feel proud to be part of that story. What started as supporting my daughter turned into fulfilling my own dream. And every time I see a child excitedly mixing flavors at my truck, I know I made the right decision.