We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Julie Fieman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Julie below.
Julie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
Yes, I can say that I am definitely happier as a business owner. I was an elementary school teacher for eight years before transitioning into a small business owner. It was a scary idea to go from a secure job with stable income to being my own boss trying to start a new business idea. Thankfully, the business has been successful since starting in 2022 and I have had many amazing opportunities to work with high end brands, meet celebrities, and most importantly provide a good shucking time to all our clients for their special events.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Oysters Hawaiʻi LLC was founded in 2020 by my sister and brother in law, Allie Chu and Hopena Pokipala, after being inspired by oyster culture on the East Coast and realizing that Hawaiʻi didn’t have anything like it. They saw an opportunity to bring a unique, elevated catering concept to the islands—becoming the first and only mobile oyster shucking and catering business in Hawaiʻi. Shortly after, the pandemic paused operations, giving the team time to refine their vision. During that period, I joined the company, and together we officially launched Oysters Hawaiʻi in 2022, introducing a one-of-a-kind luxury experience to events across the state. We have expanded quickly since 2022 and now operate in Hawai’i, Las Vegas, and California. We also have now added on a caviar mobile experience and a stationary cart.
What I’m most proud of with Oysters Hawaiʻi is that we took an idea that didn’t exist here and turned it into a thriving, recognized experience. We built something completely unique to Hawaiʻi—bringing a luxury oyster and caviar service to life—and have been able to grow it into a brand that’s trusted at high-end events, major venues, and even partnerships like Allegiant Stadium with the Raiders. Beyond the milestones, I’m most proud that we’ve created something meaningful—something that brings people together, celebrates special moments, and continues to honor the vision we started with while building a legacy we can carry forward.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One of the most defining moments of resilience in our journey came when we lost Hopena, our co-founder, partner, and family last September in a car accident. It was an incredibly difficult time, both personally and professionally, and there were moments where everything felt uncertain. We had built Oysters Hawaiʻi together from the ground up, and suddenly we were faced with the challenge of moving forward without him. In the midst of that loss, we made the decision to keep going, not just for the business, but to honor his vision and the heart he put into it. We leaned on each other, took things one step at a time, and continued showing up for our clients and our team. Through that experience, we realized that resilience isn’t about pushing through without feeling. It’s about carrying the people you love with you as you keep building. Today, everything we do is a reflection of Hopena’s legacy, and that has given our work an even deeper sense of purpose.
We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.
Yes, we manufacture our own product, our signature smoked ponzu sauce. When we first created it, it wasn’t intended to be a retail product at all. It was something we developed in-house to elevate our oyster experience. We wanted a unique, Hawaiʻi-inspired flavor that paired perfectly with fresh oysters, so we experimented until we landed on a recipe we loved. As demand grew and clients kept asking to take it home, we realized there was an opportunity to bottle it.
We didn’t come from a manufacturing background, so there was definitely a learning curve. We had to figure out everything from sourcing ingredients and scaling our recipe, to working in a commercial kitchen, packaging, labeling, and ensuring we met all food safety requirements. Instead of outsourcing, we chose to stay hands-on and produce it ourselves so we could maintain quality and authenticity. Along the way, we’ve learned how important it is to understand your true costs, build strong relationships with suppliers, and create systems that make production more efficient. One of the biggest lessons has been that manufacturing isn’t just about making a product. It’s about consistency, compliance, and being able to grow without compromising what made people love it in the first place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oystershawaii.com
- Instagram: @oystershawaii
- Facebook: @oystershawaii
- Yelp: Oysters Hawaii
