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Bakery owner shares her island culture with unique cupcake flavors

"I was taught to love and accept and everyone is ohana," said Dena Lumbang, the owner of Kalani Kakes bakery.

Bakery owner shares her island culture with unique cupcake flavors

"I was taught to love and accept and everyone is ohana," said Dena Lumbang, the owner of Kalani Kakes bakery.

MAY IS AAPI HERITAGE MONTH AND KCRA THREE IS FEATURING STORIES OF PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES WHO ARE SHARING THEIR CULTURE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND TODAY, KCRA THREE IS MIKE CHERRY FEATURES A SACRAMENTO AREA BAKERY WHOSE OWNER SHARES HER ISLAND CULTURE WITH CUSTOMERS WITH EVERY BITE. AND IT’S INSPIRED BY HER FAVORITE MOVIE, WHICH IS 51ST DATES, WHETHER IT’S TOPPED WITH LILY COY FROSTING OR FILLED WITH GUAVA GOODNESS, I THINK ALL CUPCAKES SHOULD BE FILLED OR PERKS YOU UP WITH 100% KONA COFFEE. I LOVE CHOCOLATE, SO ANYTHING CHOCOLATE, WHETHER IT’S COOKIES, BROWNIES, CAKE. I WOULD TRY TO EXPERIMENT WITH. THESE HEAVENLY CREATIONS ARE THE SIGNATURE OF KALANI CAKES, A POP UP BAKERY IN THE GREATER SACRAMENTO AREA. WHERE DO YOU TYPICALLY GET YOUR INSPIRATION IN IN ORDER TO COMBINE THE FLAVORS? I TAKE THE INSPIRATION FROM FLAVORS I LOVE FOR CAKE FLAVORS. WE HAVE A POG CHIFFON CAKE, WHICH IS THE ENDLESS SUMMER. IT’S LILY COY, ORANGE AND GUAVA CHIFFON. DINA LUMBERJACK HAS ROOTS THAT STRETCH FROM THE 916 TO THE 808 IN HAWAII. DURING A TRIP TO THE ISLAND, DINA SEARCHED FOR INSPIRATION. LITTLE DID SHE REALIZE IT WOULD COME IN THE FORM OF A MOVIE. SHE’S WATCHED TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I’VE NEVER EVEN MET YOU. ME. LIKE 51ST STATES INSPIRED BAKERY, ALL THE FLAVORS NAMED AFTER CHARACTERS, ALL OF THE HAWAIIAN FLAVORS THAT WE LOVE. HER SWEET EPIPHANY LED TO THE CREATION OF KALANI CAKES, WHERE SHE NAMES HER SWEET CREATIONS AFTER CHARACTERS IN THE MOVIE BEST SELLING CUPCAKE IS THE HENRY ROTH, WHICH IS INSPIRED BY ADAM SANDLER’S CHARACTER. AND THAT’S GUAVA. THAT’S MY PERSONAL FAVORITE. THE ULTIMATE NOD OF APPROVAL CAME WHEN STAR OF 51ST DATES, DREW BARRYMORE INVITED DINA ONTO HER SHOW. I CRIED. I SCREAMED AND I CRIED. I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT. I THOUGHT, NO WAY. I MEAN, I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK HER FOR INSPIRING ME, TOPPING IT ALL OFF, SHE SHARES HER ISLAND CULTURE WITH CUSTOMERS. ONE BITE AT A TIME. I WAS TAUGHT TO LOVE AND ACCEPT AND EVERYBODY IS OHANA AND. AND SO I FEEL LIKE THAT RESONATE WITH ME MY WHOLE LIFE. AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I MEET NEW PEOPLE BECAUSE OF
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Bakery owner shares her island culture with unique cupcake flavors

"I was taught to love and accept and everyone is ohana," said Dena Lumbang, the owner of Kalani Kakes bakery.

One Northern California baker says she loves to share her island culture with customers in every bite of her cupcakes. It's all inspired by her favorite movie, "50 First Dates." "I was taught to love and accept and everyone is ohana," said Dena Lumbang, the owner of Kalani Kakes bakery in Elk Grove. "I feel like that resonated with me my whole life, especially when I meet new people, because of my business," Lumbang said. Her unique flavor cupcake combinations are topped with tropical favorites like lilikoi, guava, or 100% Kona coffee frosting. But you'll also find sweet surprises in each treat. "I think all cupcakes should be filled," said Lumbang, who also ships cakes in jars. "For cake flavors, we have a P.O.G. chiffon cake, which is (named) Endless Summer, which is lilikoi, orange and guava chiffon." Lumbang has roots that stretch from California to Hawai'i. During a trip to the islands in 2019, Lumbang searched for inspiration to find a theme for her bakery. Little did she realize it would come in the form of a movie, she's watched time and time again. "It all came rushing to me, a '50 First Dates' inspired bakery. All of the flavors (are) named after characters. All of the Hawaiian flavors that we love," she said. Her sweet epiphany led to the creation of "Kalani Kakes," where she names her sweet creations after characters in the movie. "My best-selling cupcake is the Henry Roth, which is inspired by the Adam Sandler character, it has guava," she said. "It's my personal favorite." The ultimate nod of approval for Kalani Kakes came when a star of "50 First Dates," Drew Barrymore, invited Lumbang on her show. "I cried. I screamed and I cried. I couldn't believe it," she said. "I thought, no way am I getting the opportunity to thank her for inspiring me." Kalani Kakes does not have a brick-and-mortar store just yet, but Lumbang's products can be found in a number of local businesses and at pop-up events.

One Northern California baker says she loves to share her island culture with customers in every bite of her cupcakes. It's all inspired by her favorite movie, "50 First Dates."

"I was taught to love and accept and everyone is ohana," said Dena Lumbang, the owner of Kalani Kakes bakery in Elk Grove.

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"I feel like that resonated with me my whole life, especially when I meet new people, because of my business," Lumbang said.

Her unique flavor cupcake combinations are topped with tropical favorites like lilikoi, guava, or 100% Kona coffee frosting.

But you'll also find sweet surprises in each treat.

"I think all cupcakes should be filled," said Lumbang, who also ships cakes in jars. "For cake flavors, we have a P.O.G. chiffon cake, which is (named) Endless Summer, which is lilikoi, orange and guava chiffon."

Lumbang has roots that stretch from California to Hawai'i.

During a trip to the islands in 2019, Lumbang searched for inspiration to find a theme for her bakery.

Little did she realize it would come in the form of a movie, she's watched time and time again.

"It all came rushing to me, a '50 First Dates' inspired bakery. All of the flavors (are) named after characters. All of the Hawaiian flavors that we love," she said.

Her sweet epiphany led to the creation of "Kalani Kakes," where she names her sweet creations after characters in the movie.

"My best-selling cupcake is the Henry Roth, which is inspired by the Adam Sandler character, it has guava," she said. "It's my personal favorite."

The ultimate nod of approval for Kalani Kakes came when a star of "50 First Dates," Drew Barrymore, invited Lumbang on her show.

"I cried. I screamed and I cried. I couldn't believe it," she said. "I thought, no way am I getting the opportunity to thank her for inspiring me."

Kalani Kakes does not have a brick-and-mortar store just yet, but Lumbang's products can be found in a number of local businesses and at pop-up events.