Diamond Bakery: News

Diamond Bakery Caters to Kids of All Ages with Fun, New Line of Animal Cookies Baked Fresh in Hawai‘i

Truly Unique Hawaiian Cookies in Five Sea Animal Shapes with Local Flavors Are the First of its Kind

Honolulu, Hawai‘i – Diamond Bakery is proud to unveil the first-ever Hawaiian Sea Animal Cookies – baked fresh in Hawai‘i -- that puts a fun, local twist on an old favorite with three new varieties of animal cookies in homegrown flavors.

The Hawaiian Animal Crackers come in five unique shapes – Octopus, He‘e; Dolphin, Naì‘a; Shark, Mano; Moonfish, Opah; and Humpback Whale, Kohola. All shapes come in Classic Original, Real Maui Sugar, and Cinnamon with Real Hawaiian Honey flavors – and debut in local grocery and convenience stores throughout Hawai‘i this month.

“We are pleased to offer these truly Hawaiian snacks to our local customers and our visitors – and think they will not only be fun to eat, but taste great and celebrate some of the finest flavors of Hawai‘i,” said Diamond Bakery President Brent Kunimoto . “We have developed the most delicious and convenient animal cookie for our best customers,” he added, “Many Hawai‘i residents have grown up eating our animal cookies. Now, they can enjoy them in these new shapes and flavors. It’s an easy, good-for-you snack that’s a perfect fit with our on-the-go island lifestyle.”

The Hawaiian Animal Cookies have been in the works for over a year. The company decided to provide a fun cookie with attractive packaging geared for kids of all ages because there was a proven demand for Diamond Bakery animal cookies. The new product comes in perfect snack size bags which can retail for under a dollar; and they are also available in a value variety pack tray, for greater selection.

Diamond Bakery decided to launch its new line of crackers in order to celebrate, as well as to preserve and enhance, Hawai‘i’s unique local culture. The company has partnered with Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park to co-sponsor the Kama ‘aina Kids Trash for Cash program on April 24, 2004 . The event benefited about 2,000 youth who helped clean up Oahu ’s beaches and roads. The children received Diamond Bakery’s Hawaiian Animal Cookies as an reward for their hard work.“We're really talking about our heritage and island habitat," Kunimoto said. "We are working to heighten awareness among our youth in taking care of our environment, and the animal life that flourishes in our waters,” he explained. “By giving our customers a product with wide reaching appeal, we promote our island home around the world. It is not uncommon for tourists and other visitors to pack away boxes and cases of Diamond Bakery cookies for transport back to wherever ‘home’ happens to be,” he added.

“With international interest in Hawai‘i, these super snacks appeal to both visitors and kama‘aina alike – making them great for a ‘grab and go’ anytime snack,” Kunimoto continued. The new animal cookies are available wherever Diamond Bakery products are sold, including some visitor stores such as Hilo Hattie and ABC Stores.

Diamond Bakery has been providing delicious snacks to Hawai‘i and the world through its innovative treats and specialty crackers for over eighty years. Other products offered by Diamond Bakery include Original Soda, Salty and Saloon Pilot crackers; Original, Maui Sugar and Cinnamon Graham Crackers; Original, Coconut and Ginger Royal Creems; Animal, Candy Bead, Chocolate Chip and Coconut Cookies.

Founded in 1921 by Japanese immigrant families, the small operation started on North King Street and was named for its direct view of Diamond Head . The company has since grown from offering a handful of products to now manufacturing over 100 different crackers and cookie items.