Gelato Guru Opens Store On North Shore

Gelato is coming to Haleiwa! Master gelato maker Dirk Koeppenkastrop of the USA World Championship Team is set to open a cafe at North Shore Marketplace.

IL Gelato Hawaii will serve fresh gelato (made right in front of customers), Belgian waffles, French crepes, smoothies, acai and pitaya bowls, Italian coffee and other goodies that so far are being kept secret.

“My wife, Nicole, and I always had the dream to open our signature store on the North Shore,” said Koeppenkastrop. “Our store design will be unique, as we will have the gelato-making process an integral part of the customer’s experience.”

The space, currently under construction, is centrally located in the marketplace in Haleiwa, next to Cholo’s Homestyle Mexican Restaurant. The new store concept, operating as IL Gelato Café, will provide significant indoor and outdoor seating.

The Oahu-based Maestro Gelatiere was nominated to join Team USA to compete at the biannual Gelato World Championships “Coppa del Mondo della Gelateria” in Italy in 2014 and 2016.

IL Gelato Hawaii earned the Governor’s Green Business Award in 2012, received the “Best of Honolulu Award” in the Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt category in 2013 and was voted “Best Gelato” by Honolulu magazine in 2014.