What started as a quaint, Sundays-only food truck on the North Shore of Kauai has metamorphosed into a vegan doughnut empire. Holey Grail Donuts owners Nile and Hana Dreiling, a brother-and-sister duo from Oregon, chalk up the fate of their booming biz to a single idea that was “inspired by lots wine and silly banter.” Fast-forward three years later and Holey Grail Donuts now has a brick-and-mortar in Ward Village and two food trucks in Hanalei and Waikiki.

“The word spread quickly and the ‘Sunday ritual’ swiftly developed into a cultish following with doughnut and craft coffee enthusiasts lining up as early as 6:30 a.m.,” Hana recalls of their Garden Isle origins.

“Living on the North Shore of a small island allowed us to develop meaningful relationships with our local farmers and community,” she adds. “The abundance of locally grown ingredients allowed us to create an epic doughnut experience that celebrates the place we live.”

With more than 70 flavors — all of which have names inspired by nature, mythology or hip-hop — the Seaside Avenue food truck is open Tuesdays-Sundays and offers four doughnuts per day from a rotating seasonal menu. All handmade taro doughnuts are fried in organic coconut oil and are always made to order.

Reincarnated, the most popular flavor, is a salty-sweet medley of real maple glaze, smoked coconut and Molokai sea salt.

“Holey Grail is on a quest to unveil the rarest breeds of boundless doughnut flavors and pair them with creative coffee drinks, chai, matcha and housemade nut milks,” Hana says.

With its fast-track success from Hanalei to Waikiki serving as an example, Holey Grail Donuts’ unparalleled, plant-based indulgences show no signs of slowing down.

Holey Grail Donuts
Waikiki food truck
325 Seaside Ave., Honolulu
Hours: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays; closed Mondays
Web: holeygraildonuts.com
Instagram: @holeygraildonuts
How to pay: Cash or credit card
How to order: In person, online