The Sunrise Shack Finds a Home in Haleʻiwa

With deep roots on Oʻahu’s North Shore, the eatery’s seventh location marks a bit of a homecoming for its owners.

Standing outside a bright yellow storefront in Haleʻiwa, Travis Smith explains how he and his team transformed the space into Oʻahu’s seventh Sunrise Shack, painting the building and renovating the interior in just one month.

Next to HI Pie Bakery + Café and across from Kaimana Shave Ice, the new location came together quickly. Smith says his team received the keys to the space at the start of May and held a soft opening in mid-June, just in time for summer.

Smith has been a business owner for nearly a decade, but he says he’s still learning, and Sunrise Shack is always evolving. “We keep listening to customers, and I just try to have an open mind,” he says. Over the years, he’s taken on everything from finances and operations to recipe development, inventory and marketing. Despite expanding to several locations on Oʻahu, as well as stores in California and Japan—with more franchise locations on the way—Smith remains humble, acknowledging the challenges of running a business and that there’s always more to learn.

In October 2016, Smith, his brothers Alex and Koa, and their friend, Koa Rothman, opened a smoothie and açaí bowl stand across from Sunset Beach on the island’s North Shore. Smith says they wanted healthy food to fuel long days spent surfing, but there weren’t many options at the time. So, they decided to open Sunrise Shack to offer the type of food, coffee and smoothies they were searching for.

Smith recalls that he was originally planning to paint the stand brown, but his younger brother Koa strongly advised against it. On a tight budget, he went to Ace Hardware in Haleʻiwa and picked up a discounted can of paint—the same bright yellow that has since become the iconic Sunrise Shack color at every location.

Serving picturesque açaí bowls and smoothies, Sunrise Shack opened at the perfect time. Tumblr and Instagram were huge and social media feeds were like an endless summer filled with island vibes. “We always try to keep everything lighthearted and optimistic,” Smith says.

Over the last decade, Sunrise Shack has honed its recipes and expanded its menu to include more options like specialty toasts and sandwiches. Beyond being Instagram-worthy, Smith says the team’s goal has always been to “make healthy food taste great.”

The interior of the Sunrise Shack in Haleʻiwa—like all the locations—radiates positive energy and is reminiscent of the original shack. A vibrant mural, painted by Smith’s good friend, Summer Colmus, depicts a fantastical Haleʻiwa town. The cheerful vibes reflect the brand’s bright and optimistic personality, and they extend to the menu too.

At all locations, Smith recommends the Blue Dream smoothie with macadamia nut butter and a sandwich—his favorite is the chicken pesto.

Opening the Haleʻiwa location feels a bit like a homecoming, Smith says. The original stand closed in 2025, and while the Sunrise Shack operates a spot at Sharks Cove, the land was recently sold to the City and County of Honolulu, leaving tenants uncertain about what comes next.

The Haleʻiwa venture marks the founders’ third attempt at securing a permanent spot in the town. “We’ve always wanted something in Haleʻiwa,” says Smith. “The North Shore is so core to our origin story. We want to stay as long as possible.”

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Grace Maeda is the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.