Page 7 - MidWeek - August 24, 2022

AUGUST 24, 2022 MIDWEEK 7
Kyra Lung is not your typical teenager. While she did, in fact, spend her summer at the mall just like any other 16-year-old would, rather than shopping and loitering, she was hard at work running a highly successful pop-up cookie shop at International Market Place.
by Ginger Keller
Teen Finds The ‘Sweet’ Side Of Business
Sixteen-year old Kyra Lung owns cookie biz Kyra The Baker. PHOTO COURTESY KYRA LUNG
physical business,” says Lung. “I know online businesses are very in style recently — I have a jewelry business on Insta- gram (@kyraandash) with my
With a lifelong love for sweets, Lung would spend her free time watching cook- ing tutorials and mukbangs (eating shows) on YouTube, eventually deciding to try it for herself. A product of her generation, the self-taught Lung began by baking cakes and brownies for family and
After gaining some fanfare, Lung — who has always had “entrepreneurial spirit,” she says — decided to establish an official business, and thus, Kyra the Baker was born. She was inspired by fellow Punahou School student Beri
During the lulls of her spring semester, Lung would research places for her pop- up, admitting it took longer than expected due to her age and need for a short lease. Just weeks before her grand opening date, Lung secured a second-floor storefront at In- ternational Market Place.
When it came to making her now-famous cookies, Lung had to perfect her reci- pe (it took 30 tries) and would jot down any potential flavor ideas whenever inspiration struck.
entrepreneur is going to put her biz on the back burner, as she focuses on school and college applications. Kyra the Baker fans can look forward to Christmastime, though, when Lung, who will be on winter break, will be back in the kitchen.
friends’ birthdays and even- tually held a fundraiser at her high school.
Maeda, also known as Baked by Beri, who had a cupcake shop at Ala Moana Center the previous summer.
friend that’s online — but I’m very grateful to get an actual shop. I now respect how hard it is for business owners.
this and decorate with this.’” Some of her bestselling creations at her shop — which opened June 15 and closed on Aug. 15, her first day of her senior year — included straw- berry cheesecake, s’ mores, Oreo milk bar and liliko‘i
“I didn’t really know how I could fundraise money but I thought I could use baking as a way,” says Lung. “My goal was $1,000, and I would make packs of three cookies and sell to whoever wanted it on Ins- tagram. I raised over $1,000, which was amazing to be able to contribute.”
“I never knew you could open a business at our age, but it is very possible,” says Lung. “I got her help with everything and a lot of advice from her.”
“I feel like I showed oth- er young entrepreneurs that it’s possible,” she adds. “I’m grateful to be representing teen entrepreneurs who have the same mindset as me.”
buttercream.
Right now, the budding
“I’ m shocked that I could get this going and even start a
“I would just stare at can- dy bars in the grocery store and think, ‘Oh, that might be something. I could stuff it with
Keep up to date with her on Instagram (@kyrathebaker).
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