Business: Feature Pathway
Business
Business Owner: Abi Langlas
If Abi Langlas had a motto, it might be, just try it.
This ambitious attitude has allowed her to live in France and England. It’s allowed her to work as a pastry chef at Alan Wong’s Restaurant, one of the most prestigious restaurants on O‘ahu. And most recently, it’s allowed her to call herself a small-business owner.
Langlas, owner of Cakeworks, adopted this go-for-it approach early. As a teen, she whipped up cakes for friends that were a far cry from the supermarket box mix. Her cakes were elaborate—drizzled with chocolate ganache or decorated with chocolate leaves and marzipan flowers. Sure, she had her share of kitchen debacles. But she also had fun.
Growing up near Hilo, Langlas spent her spare time cooking and baking with her parents. Her mother, a social worker by profession, was also proficient in the kitchen. Together, they would experiment—knitting together for Langlas the ideas of passion and process.
“My mother would make all kinds of things,” Langlas says. “Everything from truffles to cookies, but she also didn’t shy away from gourmet items. She didn’t learn from anyone, she would just try it out.”(Read more)
Video Producer: John Garcia
John can do everything from web development, to photography, to graphic design, and even branding and marketing of products...(Read more)
President & Managing Director: Veronica Kaneko
Veronica Kaneko started out working the counter, and in her 31 years with McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawai‘i Inc., she climbed the food chain to become president and managing director—the region’s top corporate position.(Read more)