Founded by BYU–Hawaii alumni Kalin Uluave and his wife Kiana, the So’Da Bomb soda truck has been located in the Hukilau Marketplace at the Polynesian Cultural Center since 2017.
Matty Coon, a senior majoring in accounting from Texas, said So’Da Bomb is a way to bring people together. “I’m not a huge soda drinker, but it’s a treat for myself and I always go with friends.”
Veronica Davis, a sophomore majoring in communications from Wahiawa, said she loves So’Da Bomb because it’s a creative way for her to get her caffeine fix. “It adds a kick to whatever your favorite soda is.”
Amanda Abraham, a sophomore majoring in hospitality and tourism management from Illinois, said she likes it because it’s different from regular sodas. “They have the flavored syrups in it. Just having the different combination of flavors makes it’s a lot better.”
“I came pretty much every day until they hired me,” Ellie Cano, a sophomore from Georgia majoring in marketing, said. She’s been a So’Da Bomb addict long before she started working for them over a month ago. “People love it because it’s cheap and everyone is so nice here. We have a student discount day and now we’re doing all these sustainable things too, like selling reusable straws and tumbler cups.”
Gentry Burton, a junior from Washington majoring in English, said she loves working at So’Da Bomb because she gets to see people from all over the world. “I love the people I work with, my bosses, and interacting with both students and tourists. I get to know the regulars… which isn’t something you really get inside the PCC.”
In addition to a wide variety of tropical-inspired soda combinations, So’Da Bomb serves homemade treats like banana bread, cupcakes, and cookies.
Inspired by the success and popularity of mixed soda drinks on the mainland, the Uluaves wanted to bring the idea to the locals and a taste of home to the mainlanders on the North Shore.
In the “About Us” section on their website, Kalin says, “My wife and I saw the mixed soda business while living in Utah so we dreamed of starting one in Hawaii. We want to stay in Hawaii long term so we needed a reason to stay, and owning a business is a great reason!”
The secret So’Da Bomb menu
“Ah, the secret menu,” said Cano with a big smile as she leaned out the window of the So’Da Bomb truck during her afternoon shift. “Some of them are really good. Other ones… people come up to order them and I forget what they are so I have to look them up.” She laughed. “It’s really cool. You can also mix your own drinks, so that’s really fun too.”
Cano continued, “Back here we have a couple of flavors that aren’t listed on the menu, like cheesecake and pomegranate. I like to put pomegranate in like everything. I also like to do cherry, vanilla, Mountain Dew, and half-and-half.”
Davis said, “The secret menu was the best discovery I’ve ever made. It changed my life. It will change yours too. It’s fun because it makes me feel like I’m an insider like I’m special because it’s something secret. If I had to choose just one favorite soda from the secret menu it would be the ‘Sunset.’”
The Sunset drink contains Mountain Dew, raspberry, and vanilla, according to Davis.
She continued, “All of the sodas on the secret menu are combinations which were made by the people who work there. I love the creativity that’s gone into them.”
According to Cano, one of the most popular secret menu drinks is the “Ocean Mist,” which was created by Burton.
Burton said, “It’s just Mist Twist with blue curaçao, coconut, and fresh lime.
“It was actually an accident,” she continued with a laugh when asked what inspired her to make it. “I made someone’s drink wrong and put it aside to make the right one. Later I was thirsty and was like, ‘I’m just gonna drink this one,’ and I actually really liked it.”
Burton said most of the items on the menu are the result of experimenting and having fun with flavors the employees and customers think will taste good together.
Abraham said the secret menu is really low key. “I actually haven’t tried anything on it yet. I need to. I think people like the idea of secret menus because there are other places that have them like Starbucks, In-N-Out, and McDonald’s.” She smiled as she added, “It’s a little extra… and people get to talk about it like, ‘Oooh, I got this off the secret menu.’”
When asked what she would put in a soda of her own creation, Abraham said, “I would take soda and mix it with an energy drink, like a shot of Monster. Kind of like at Sodalicious [in Utah,] they do something similar. I’d probably throw in some other flavors too. It would depend on what energy drink flavor was in there.”
Coon said, “I’ve always thought this was a really cool idea. I did think it was very Utahn because they love their Sodalicious. But it’s nice we have our own little twist to it so it’s more Hawaii.”
Their favorite drinks and what flavor describes them
Coon said she always gets “Broke Da Mouf” because she loves Mist Twist. “It’s probably my favorite. At least I think that’s the one,” she said, laughing. “I love the bubbles.”
Davis said if she could be any So’Da Bomb flavor she would be “The Shaka” because it’s like her signature drink. “The Shaka” has a Mountain Dew base and is mixed with blood orange and mango flavored syrup.
Abraham said her favorite drink is the “Ho Nah,” which is ginger ale soda mixed with mango, passion fruit, and pineapple. “I guess that’s what I would describe myself as. It’s really good.”
Davis said her first introduction to So’Da Bomb was on a date. When asked why she thinks So’Da Bomb is a sweet place for a first date, she said, “One, it’s not super expensive. It’s a fun treat, and you get to talk a lot. You can learn a lot about a person from their favorite soda.
“Like, maybe they do like caffeine or maybe they don’t. Maybe they’re more of a fruity personality, maybe they like darker sodas.”
Coon said she’s very simple when it comes to soda. She said she loves lemonade as well as vanilla flavored soda, like vanilla Sprite.
“My mom’s always like, ‘I’m very vanilla.’ And vanilla is good because you can just add to it, not a lot, but a little to add more flavor to your favorite soda.”
So’Da Bomb the planet
Abraham said she really likes that So’Da Bomb is trying to be more environmentally friendly. “They’ve had reusable cups for a while and they just came out with reusable straws that everyone is going crazy over.”
Cano explained how customers can buy the tumbler cups for $15. The cups, which are made of clear plastic, give customers a look at the colorful soda concoctions and carbonation inside. “But then it’s only $2 to fill up,” said Cano. “I’m like an environmentalist, so I’m super excited about the reusable straws too.”
Coon was surprised but excited to hear So’Da Bomb was selling reusable straws now because she’s been trying to find a new one. “Yes! Save the planet,” she said enthusiastically.
Davis concluded, “So’Da Bomb is literally the bomb. It’s my addiction. If you go there often, I suggest getting the souvenir cup because every refill you get is only two dollars. And don’t forget to stamp your stamp card. That’s all the So’Da Bomb wisdom I have.”
Writer: Emi Wainwright