Kauai Macs for Healthy Snack Attacks
Kauai Macs are raw, vegan, GMO-free and gluten-free macaroon cookies. Daniel Lane photo
Nobu and Melanie Muranaka make tasty and healthy snacks. Despite the name, Kauai Macs are not made with macadamia nuts. “Macs” is short for macaroons. These aren’t your traditional macaroons—filled with coconut, sugar and egg whites then baked. Kauai Macs are raw, vegan, GMO-free and gluten-free macaroon cookies that are pretty filling, too! Nobu and Melanie eliminated sugar to bolster their health and in the process, became inspired to produce their favorite nutritious snack. I have to agree, the cookies are lightly sweet and the nob of dark chocolate on top adds a hint of indulgence.
Nobu Muranaka, owner of Kauai Macs. Daniel Lane photo
“Both of us changed our diets for medical purposes,” says Nobu. He and I are sitting under a giant monkeypod tree in Kapahi Park and trade winds stir his long black ponytail. “When Melanie was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, we learned that diet plays a big role in her illness.”
Today Melanie is able to maintain her disease through diet. But she hasn’t been able to work since 2009, when she was diagnosed. Some days, all Melanie can do is get up to use the restroom and feed herself.
“When you think about the fact that the average person spends 20 or 30 years consuming junk,” explains Nobu, “it takes a long time to reset your body. Now we understand food properties and how they can help.”
Kauai Macs contain a blend of real maple syrup, organic agave, real vanilla, Hawaiian sea salt, premium almonds, organic shredded coconut, organic coconut oil and organic cacao powder.
Nobu is a marketer by trade and when he and Melanie moved to Kauai from from Utah, he noticed thousands of GMO-free and organic proponents. He decided it was an excellent market for his macaroons but he didn’t know hoe receptive the island would be.
“When I produced the first batch to take to retailers and get feedback, I was shocked because buyers wanted to immediately place orders,” says Nobu. “I didn’t have the company set up. I was just getting feedback. After that, it was rock ’n roll!”
Kauai Macs can be purchased at:
- Papaya’s Natural Foods & Cafe – Kapaa
- Harvest Market – Hanalei
- North Shore General Store – Princeville
- Vim n’ Vigor – Lihue
- Living Foods Gourmet Market & Cafe – Poipu
- Kukuiula Store – Poipu
- Allerton/McBryde Botanical Gardens – Poipu
- And soon to be in Safeway – Kapaa