The Heart of Honu Bakery: The Story of Turtle Bread

For 20 years, Honu Bakery’s Turtle Bread has been the heart and soul of our business, and we’re excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at how this beloved treat is made. Our Turtle Bread has become a signature item, delighting customers not only here on Oahu but also from our neighboring islands and beyond.

Our Turtle Bread, shaped like the shell of a sea turtle, is crafted with great care and attention to detail. Each loaf is made from our signature in-house sweet dough, filled with a rich combination of buttercream, chestnut, and raisin, and topped off with almond slices. The result is a soft, slightly sweet, and indulgent bread that has kept our local regulars coming back for more year after year.

Spreading the Love Beyond Oahu

It’s not just Oahu that loves our Turtle Bread. We’ve been fortunate to receive so much love from other islands, like Big Island, Maui, and Kauai, where visitors make sure to stop by Honu Bakery during their trips to Oahu. Many of them leave with bags of Turtle Breads to take home before they catch their flights back.

But the love doesn’t stop there. We’ve also seen support from our far neighbors in Guam. Flight attendants flying between Guam and Hawaii often visit us, bringing back boxes of Turtle Bread to share with their community. It’s incredibly heartwarming to know our Turtle Bread has found a place in the hearts of our neighbors from across the Pacific.

For Those Who Haven’t Tasted It Yet

If you’ve never tasted our Turtle Bread, this is the bread that represents who we are as a bakery—hence the name “Honu,” which means “sea turtle” in Hawaiian. The Turtle Bread is a symbol of both our roots and our ongoing journey as a local business. It’s become a tradition for many, and we’re honored to be part of your table, whether it’s for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or a special treat.

Our Vision for Turtle Bread

In Hawaii, there are already a few iconic pastries that hold a special place in people’s hearts—like Leonard’s Malasadas, Liliha’s Cocopuffs, and Valerio’s Pandesal. We’ve worked tirelessly for 20 years to make Turtle Bread another iconic local pastry that both locals and tourists can enjoy. Our goal is to promote not only our bakery but also the local bakery industry as a whole, supporting Hawaii’s tourism and food culture.

As we continue to grow, we will strive to do even better. Our vision is for Turtle Bread to become synonymous with Hawaii’s vibrant food scene—something that locals can be proud of and that visitors can look forward to bringing home as a piece of their Hawaiian experience.

Mahalo to all of our loyal customers, both near and far, who continue to support us. Here’s to another 20 years of Turtle Bread and to creating even more iconic memories together!