Meet Shauna Medeiros-Tuilaepa: Owner and Operator, Mom, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, and Badass!

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shauna Medeiros-Tuilaepa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shauna, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Being self employed has itʻs challenges in any industry. Being in the hospitality industry is not for the faint of heart. No matter what area you are in whether its hotel, restaurant, etc…it can be hard. Most of the industry involves strenuous physical demands all while putting your best face forward to your guests and patrons. In the food truck industry, it is no different. As a food truck owner, I have assumed the roles of plumber, electrician, financial advisor, website designer, marketing manager, customer relations, wedding coordinator…all of the above! This is on top of being a chef and developing great recipes for our supporters to enjoy. In the food truck world, itʻs long hours, extensive cleaning schedules, issues with inventory and stock, challenges with keeping up with the demand despite limited space and resources, unrealistic expectations from patrons, and something is always, ALWAYS breaking or something important was forgotten during loading. Yet despite all of the challenges, food trucking is fun and flexible. You have the freedom of mobility and bringing those things that make your cuisine special to people who genuinely enjoy the experience. 

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our business, I believe is one of a kind in Colorado. Not only am I proud of our menu that we serve and everything that goes into running this business, but also, that we have begun branding ourselves as a community resource. We offer a unique style of cuisine which has Polynesian roots. We offer traditional Hawaiian style dishes and also other Polynesian influenced fusion items. We keep some things authentic but also allow for some space to have fun with our food. We are also multi-faceted in that we are not only a food truck but a caterer as well. We have catered parties as small as 10 people to special events as large as 500! What really sets us apart from other similar concepts is our dedication to our community. We try our best to support Pacific Islanders of all nations and help lift our people up to succeed in the Mile High by connecting them to much needed resources and information, hosting fundraisers, providing free services for special events, and really encouraging our younger generations to be active and aware in the todayʻs world. Sometimes itʻs hard to feel like you matter, but we want all of our Pacific Islanders to know that everyoneʻs voice matters! We all have the power in us to advocate for real change in this world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Honestly, we love to hang out together at home. We have a very big family and we love to eat, drink, and talk story in the kitchen. Aside from that, I would definitely take them to cruise downtown Denver. We really have a beautiful city with so much to see. Maybe go for a hike somewhere and take in the beautiful nature that is in Colorado. If we are going out to eat, I would take them to “Little Saigon” on Alameda and Federal to eat Chinese and Vietnamese food.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to my husband! My ride or die and the most important factor in who makes our business run. Together, we go!

Website: askus@nokealoha.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nokealoha/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-medeiros-7686b3a3/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoKeAloha2015
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/No-Ke-Aloha-polynesian-cuisine-1528375057375883
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/no-ke-aloha-polynesian-cuisine-denver?osq=no+ke+aloha