Former Kalani High School valedictorian Jinie Ho started her matcha pop-up business in July 2025 as a way to enjoy the summer after graduation. She did not expect the project to turn into a business that would shape her early adulthood.
The idea for the pop-up came from a graduation trip to Japan. The experience stood out to her and inspired her to recreate it for others. She hoped to bring more “authentic” matcha to Hawaii.
“At first, it was meant as a last goodbye to high school and my friends before college,” Ho says.
What began as a summer activity quickly gained attention. Ho relied on Instagram to promote her pop-ups. Social media helped spread “hype,” and her choice of locations also played a major role in her success.
Ho often ran her pop-up near Kapiolani Community College (KCC) and the KCC Farmers Market, where foot traffic was high. Being near a busy area allowed new customers to discover the business. At one major event, the crowd was “overwhelming.”
“The line wrapped around the building for five straight hours,” Ho says. “Having 400 customers felt like my viral moment.”
Behind the scenes, Ho managed nearly every part of the operation herself. She prepared homemade syrups and creams, purchased supplies, and tracked expenses. At the same time, she balanced college classes and worked as a server at a local restaurant.
Balancing school and business was not easy. Some of the scheduled pop-ups conflicted with her class schedule, forcing her to miss lectures. Today, Ho recognizes that running the business came with sacrifices.
“I missed class and missed knowledge, which is an opportunity cost,” Ho says.
Customer feedback allowed Ho to expand on her matcha offerings. She regularly tweaked her recipes based on taste preferences and allowed customers to customize sweetness levels. This helped her build trust with customers and refine her product.
One customer interaction stood out to Ho: an elderly woman from Japan visited the pop-up and watched the drink preparation. After tasting the matcha, the customer praised the quality. “I want to bring all my family to your matcha pop-up because your matcha is very good,” Jinie recalls the customer saying.
Throughout the journey, Ho received support from her mother, Shirly Lee, who was present at many of the events. Mrs. Lee was not worried about how the business would affect Ho’s performance at school, knowing her daughter’s work ethic and discipline.
“Being tired is the only thing I am really worried about,” Lee says.
Her mother also helped keep the business running smoothly. Mrs. Lee attended the events as a supervisor, ensuring Ho had an adult presence when interacting with customers. She says she was motivated by safety concerns and a desire to help her daughter learn responsibility.
“I don’t charge her for my help,” Lee says, laughing. “She’s learning life lessons she’s going to use forever.”
Despite her growing success, Ho experienced moments of exhaustion and doubt. Accepting too many events led to burnout, especially after a day with three pop-ups.
“I have doubts, even during my greatest moments,” Ho says.
Those challenges helped Ho learn to manage her time more effectively. She learned to pace herself and create a schedule.
“I transfer that energy into my college lifestyle and find a balance between school, business, family, and friends,” Ho says.
Although Ho did not see the matcha pop-up as a permanent career, she viewed it as a starting point. The experience gave her a “clearer vision” for her future. What started as a summer idea grew into something she wants to carry with her into the future.
