Big Island Candies
Big Island Candies is produced in their Hilo factory to ensure quality and exclusivity of their products, which are still handmade with pride by their Ohana of dedicated employees.
Both born on the Big Island of Hawai‘i, Allan Ikawa and his wife Irma decided to go “all in,” in 1977, investing everything they had to start Big Island Candies. Armed with just a chocolate melter and a shrink wrap machine, Allan put in 16-hour days at a small warehouse in Hilo’s industrial district. He never quit. Together, Allan and Irma overcame several devastating setbacks in their steadfast pursuit of the American Dream. The company has since become a cornerstone in the Big Island community and it was Osaki Creative’s job to create packaging designs that reflect their story.
What We Did
Market Research & Analysis
Brand Strategy
Identity & Design Development
Product Color System
Packaging Design
Press Checking
Brand Guidelines
The Approach
Osaki Creative was tasked with creating packaging designs for multiple lines of products. The goal was to create classy and elegant packaging using a color chart to represent each island flavor the company produces. We needed to design packaging that was as vibrant as the treats Big Island Candies produced.
The Results
The final designs drew inspiration from the powerful ocean waves and the beautiful tropical flowers found on the Big Island. One product in particular, Mika Mints, was given even more attention as it was named after Allan Ikawa’s granddaughter and was a way to honor her. Each package follows the same color chart to represent each flavor, but is also unique to that line of treats. We drew inspiration from Japanese and European designs and focused details and the quality of each packaging.
“We have worked with Osaki Creative Group for over 15 years and they have played an integral role in molding our brand.”
– Sherrie Holi, COO, Big Island Candies
