Gypsea Gelato, a handmade gelato/sorbet shop that also serves up pastries in West Hawaii, was named the Small Business of the Year for Hawaii County during an awards ceremony Friday in Honolulu.
“This award means that all of our hard work, dedication, and passion for the business has been noticed — it means that we are doing things right,” said founder Tim Heaton.
Gypsea Gelato prides itself on using locally made, top-quality ingredients in their products, and also treating customers and crew with respect, Heaton said.
The company has three retail stores in West Hawaii with locations at Coconut Grove Marketplace in Kailua-Kona, Kings’ Shops in South Kohala and Honuaino Square in South Kona. They also have a production facility on the island.
But Gypsea Gelato wasn’t always a bustling ice cream business.
Founders Tim Heaton and wife Sandra Heaton started the ice cream shop in a tiny space in Kealakekua, after spending years at sea on commercial fishing boats and dive boats across the world. In 2014, they settled down on the Big Island, opening up shop at the Mango Court before moving to Honuaino Square and beyond.
However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, business slowed, and the Heatons applied for a series of loans to stay afloat. Ultimately, Gypsea Gelato has rode out the pandemic strong, opening its newest location in Kings’ Shops in March.
“The local community, along with our phenomenal crew, helped get us through. That, in addition to the SBA and PPP loans, so that we could keep all of our staff employed,” Heaton said.
With 32 employees, the specialty ice cream shop continues to grow.
“Our plans include the opening of a mobile kiosk in Kailua-Kona, along with growth of the existing retail locations,” said Heaton. We just opened the Kings’ Shops, in Waikoloa Beach area, in March 2022, so we will work on growth of that location over the upcoming year.”
The menu at Gypsea Gelato includes staple items, such as the Mauka Trail, Tom Kha, Toasted Coconut Haystack, Lilikoi, Salted Caramel and others. The company also offers up dairy-free and % reduced sugar options, as well as sorbets, and rotating specialty flavors like Chocolate Orange, White Pineapple and Goat Cheese and Mixed Berry.
The Heatons were among 14 Small Business Association award winners during Friday’s ceremony on Oahu.
Winners were chosen based on “increases in revenues and sales, job creation, response to adversity and innovation in small business operations, products or services as well as commitment to their community,” according to a press release by the U.S Small Business Administration.
Also recognized were Rennel Saro and Danielle Hawxhurst of Kona Crust with the State of Hawaii SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The award is presented to individuals who have shown the likelihood of success during a minimum of three years of operation and ownership of a small business before reaching the age of 35 and demonstrates increasing sales and job opportunities.
Aesha Shapiro, organizer of the Ladies Artisan Market in Kailua-Kona, was named a Women in Business Champion. The title is bestowed on an individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of women’s business ownership.
