The surf season is upon us and soon the famous North Shore beaches will be swarming with competitors and spectators alike. This year, though, there will be a new addition to the lineup. IL Gelato Hawaii will be there making waves of its own by scooping its all natural, authentic, and award-winning gelato at all of the surf competitions organized by the World Surf League (WSL) including the famous Vans Triple Crown of Surfing (VTCS).
“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to be part of this world-renowned celebration of surfing” said Dirk Koeppenkastrop, co-owner of IL Gelato Hawaii. “I’m a surfer and I’ve been a fan and spectator at the competitions for years, so to have the chance to work these events is really exciting for me,” he said, “I know many of our employees are excited to be out there as well. It’s going to be a lot of fun for everyone.”
IL Gelato Hawaii began their relationship with the World Surf League last year when they became neighbors in the North Shore Marketplace in Haleiwa, the home of IL Gelato Café Haleiwa and the location of the WSL’s first Hawaii office. IL Gelato Hawaii first became involved by providing gelato services at various WSL events, particularly fundraising events for the WSL partner non-profit 501c3 Hawaii Youth Surfing Development Organization (HYSDO).
IL Gelato Hawaii kicked off the surf competition season on October 7 when they served their award-winning gelato to the participants of the HYSDO sponsored Youth Development Day presented by Hurley Surf Club, hosted by the World Surf League/Tahiti Nui. Last week IL Gelato Hawaii was again in action at the Turtle Bay Pro/Hurley Surf Club Movie Nights at the Turtle Bay Resort. This weekend IL Gelato will be on the scene at the HIC Pro at Sunset Beach, wind and waves permitting.
IL Gelato is committed to supporting community by offering their gelato at fundraising activities for various educational institutions and by supporting the local food industry and “farm to table” movement by sourcing ingredients from local farmers for their all natural, locally produced gelato. “We buy our fresh fruits from Angaohalin Services in Mokuleia and our Kona Coffee and guava are from the Big Island” said Nicole Lueker, co-owner of IL Gelato. “As a small, local company ourselves, it’s really important for us to buy locally whenever possible,” she said.
On the menu at all the upcoming events will be all-natural smoothies made with real fruit and delicious scoops of fresh fruit sorbetto, affogatos (espresso served with a scoop of gelato), acai and pitaya bowls, and of course their award-winning gelato, all of which will be produced locally on the North Shore at the Haleiwa location. All cups, spoons, straws and other serveware used at the events will be compostable, helping to keep the ocean and beaches plastic-free and supporting WSL and Van’s Triple Crown of Surfing ‘s commitment to minimizing environmental waste at all their events.
About IL Gelato Hawai‘i
IL Gelato Hawaii is locally owned and operated and has been serving its authentic Italian-style gelato since 2010 when they opened their first factory location in Iwilei Business Center in Honolulu. Since then, the company has opened two cafes, one in Kahala Mall and the other previously mentioned in the North Shore Marketplace in Haleiwa where all of the gelato for the event will be made fresh daily.
IL Gelato Hawai’i served its Haupia Coconut Gelato at the final APEC conference hosted by President Barrack Obama and its Mango Sorbetto to the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet during his last visit in Honolulu.