Meant to BE: This coffee trailer is worth the drive to West Oʻahu

Fun fact: Meant to BE., one of the most popular drinks at BE. coffee trailer, was inspired by the first time that husband-and-wife business owners Cody and Kaitie Miyashiro-Carvalho met.

“The first time we met was actually in Arizona at Dutch Bros Coffee,” says Kaitie Miyashiro-Carvalho. At the time, Cody was on a layover while working as a flight attendant, and Kaitie was training to become a teacher through Teach for America.

“That’s the first drink he ever bought me — a chocolate macadamia nut latte," she says.

Little did the Miyashiro-Carvalhos know that their passion for coffee and community would launch them into full-time business owners.  

The couple officially opened their coffee trailer, BE., last September. While the coffee’s trailer location can change by the week, frequent spots include Hoopili soccer park or Kapolei Regional Park. Follow the business on Instagram to see its featured locations and hours for the week.

The inspiration for BE. came to the couple in 2019 when they were at a café in Bali. Miyashiro-Carvalho says they wanted to “create and hold a space for kamaʻāina and kānaka to find belonging and connection.”

“Through powerful community experiences like going to Mauna Kea to fight against TMT and the healing practices discovered in our yoga community, contrasted by isolation during the global pandemic, we realized how vital community is for our own well-being, healing and liberation,” Miyashiro-Carvalho says. “Through this need, BE. was born. We always say that coffee and matcha are really just excuses to get us outside and in community.”

The business’s name, BE., has several different meanings. While its name is officially BE., many customers call it BE.kakou, according to Miyashiro-Carvalho.

“To just BE. is a stance of empowerment, a reminder for you to be who you are and step into your power,” she says. “At the same time, we are also a space for you to just BE. and find BE.longing.

“Our hope for BE. is to help kānaka and kamaʻāina find BE.longing and connection through good food, locally inspired coffees and teas, and community workshops,” she adds. “When we take a moment to BE. in community, BE. in ‘aina and BE. ourselves, that’s where true liberation arises.”

Miyashiro-Carvalho also notes that kākou means “we,” inclusive for three or more people, in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

“With that in mind, we wanted to elevate our language, as well as emphasize that our space is kākou created, meaning we create it together,” she says. “Kāua, in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, also means ʻwe,’ but for only two people. It truly emphasizes that this BE. is bigger than just Cody and I.”

The biz features lattes available year-round as well as seasonal specials. Its coffee features ChadLou’s Coffee Roasters — they roast and supply their coffee, according to Miyashiro-Carvalho — and the biz gets its matcha from Ami Mei Matcha. Meanwhile, Manu Brewing Co. supplies its māmaki.  

Signature lattes — and the most popular options — include BE. Pono, a chocolate haupia latte, and Meant to BE., the business’s aforementioned chocolate macadamia nut latte. Other options include BE. maluhia (a vibrant ube matcha latte), BE. paʻa (cinnamon dolce latte) and BE. pumehana (apple cinnamon chai latte). The signature drinks were partly influenced by nostalgic dishes or flavors the couple grew up with, like chocolate haupia pies from Ted’s Bakery.

Seasonal specials usually change monthly, according to Miyashiro-Carvalho. The couple usually thinks of a theme for the month, and the beverages align with the theme.

“In July, we celebrated Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea, which is Hawaiian Sovereignty Restoration Day (on July 31),” Miyashiro-Carvalho explains. “We had the Hoʻi hoʻi ea drink; we wanted to use local ingredients for it. The Summer of Love strawberry matcha was featured in June to celebrate pride month. That one was so ʻono that we brought it back for July.”

The trailer also includes a few dishes like avocado toasties ($13.50), coconut chia pudding ($8.50) turkey pesto wraps ($16.20).

The business is also a first-time vendor at Made in Hawaiʻi Festival, coming up Aug. 15-17 at Hawaiʻi Convention Center. BE. will be located at booth F-120 (all the way to the right by the wall, confirms Miyashiro-Carvalho).

The biz will be featuring a special menu just for Made in Hawaiʻi. Customers can look forward to the popular BE. pono, Hoʻi hoʻi ea — a honey latte topped with macadamia nut and paʻakai (Hawaiian sea salt) cold foam — a secret matcha latte, and māmaki with a special twist, according to Miyashiro-Carvalho.

“We are so excited about this because last year, we didn’t even dream to be at an event like Made in Hawaiʻi,” she says. “It feels so surreal to be at an event alongside such huge changemakers in Hawaiʻi, who are making an impact in their own way.”

While the business is mostly known for its specialty lattes and matcha, its owners are also passionate about its featured community workshops.

“We just wrapped up our summer series of self-care, where we created vision boards and did yoga in the park,” Miyashiro-Carvalho says. “We will continue the rest of the year with the debut of our monthly run club, yoga and brunch club, and other culturally focused workshops with community partners, artists and practitioners.”

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CONTACT
BE.
Various locations
Instagram: @be.kakou

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.