THE INSIDE SCOOP ON OLIVE & OLIVER WAIKIKI
July 18, 2019
Step inside our swell little spot in Waikiki and one of the first things you’ll notice is Olive & Oliver, the curated boutique and artisan coffee shop inside the Surfjack.
Husband-and-wife team Ali McMahon and Parker Moosman are the brains behind the concept space, bringing their love of classic coastal lifestyle and aloha spirit to the heart of Waikiki. The pair first opened the renowned retail shops in Kailua—Olive Boutique and Oliver Men’s Shop—and their newest outpost here at the hotel stocks a similarly awesome array of curated essentials for the beach and beyond, including exclusive items and Surfjack branded goods.
Aside from the seriously style-minded boutique section, the cafe counter keeps residents and visitors alike fueled up for early morning explorations, post-surf sessions and long days spent by the pool. The signature art-inspired cups are oh-so-Insta-worthy, but it’s the #damngoodcoffee that’s inside that really counts. Think perfect pour overs, matcha lattes, chai teas and more.
Here’s the inside scoop on Olive & Oliver (think coffee cup collaborations and upcoming exclusives) via Parker!
Can you talk about your signature pineapple wallpaper?
I painted the pineapples, but the wallpaper was an opening gift from a designer friend of ours in Seattle.
What are some brands that are exclusive to the Surfjack location?
Other than our private label designs that are all exclusive to our shops, we LOVE collaborating with other artists to create some unique and different. And so does Surfjack! Therefore, we have a rotating group of products coming in and out monthly.
For instance, last year we had Ashkahn x Surfjack Playing cards, which feature 54 custom cards including the (surf)Jack, Queen(Liliuokalani), King(Kamehemeha), and Ashkahn himself as the Joker. We also have an assortment of collaboration tees we have done with Ashkahn, as well as a custom coffee cup design and paper cup sleeves, stickers and buttons.
Other fun collabs include our Olive & Oliver x Matt Tapia denim Wish You Were Here Tote—featuring the same graphic from the bottom of the pool—and our Waikiki Beach Tee with artist Manny Aloha.
This fall, expect “Room Service – The Surfjack Sessions,” a vinyl release featuring a bunch of world traveling musicians recording their tunes throughout the Surfjack (whether in one of the penthouse suites, a rooftop lanai, etc.). The release will feature 10 songs, and will be accompanied by a photo book with still photography from the sessions and a digital download code with videos of the performances (all directed by local directors) and mp3’s of all the tracks.
What kind of coffee do you use at the cafe?
We use Caffe Vita out of Seattle. They have been roasting out there in the Capitol Hill neighborhood for over 25 years, and Ali and I spent our 20’s in that neighborhood, so it was a perfect fit!
Those cups! Can you tell us about the designs for the to-go cups?
What’s the most popular drink at the cafe?
I favor the cortado, a perfect coffee/milk ratio if you ask me, but the latte is always tried and true. People are also loving our matcha, chai and our new pour overs. Also, we make our scratch syrups in house using local organic ingredients, and they go fast!
What’s your favorite thing about Olive & Oliver’s Surfjack location?
I love the energy and the mix of people! In a normal retail environment you might see your best customers once or twice a month, but having the shop inside a hotel means we have them for a week (sometimes more) which allows us to get to know people more. We have made some amazing friendships with Surfjack guests.
Can’t make it to Waikiki, but #WishYouWereHere? Olive & Oliver recently opened their online shop featuring select items (including some Surfjack swag). Happy shopping!