After nearly eight years at the helm of Yelp Honolulu, it’s time to shine the spotlight on Senior Community Director Emi Hart! Highly regarded to colleagues and Yelpers alike, Emi’s best known for her regular local TV appearances where she highlights local businesses as well as her crazy, sexy, cool events — everything from “Yelp’s Tackiest Prom Ever” to a 7-day cruise around the Hawaiian islands. When she’s not kicking butt in Yelp-land, Emi is a singer/songwriter and proud coparent of three beautiful children.
What did you do for work before Yelp?
I spent many years planning huge parties at nightclubs and used to own a designer sample sale business where we hosted pop-up shopping and cocktail parties for 1000+ guests. The week before I got my job at Yelp I told a co-worker that I wanted a job where I had the freedom to express my ideas and wear wigs of every color. Then voila, I got my job at Yelp! I love seeing the huge smiles on everyone’s faces at a costumed event. It makes all your hard work worthwhile to know that you’re bringing delight and joy to someone’s life.
What’s your favorite thing about representing Honolulu on Yelp?
I’m sure we can all agree Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, but in addition, our community is the friendliest in the entire Yelpiverse. The Yelp community here is like an extended ‘ohana (family) where we all help and take care of one another.
What’s a great local business that you discovered because of Yelp?
There are so many, but my favorite has to be Wang Chung’s Karaoke Bar in Waikiki.
How would you spend a perfect Saturday in Honolulu?
If you were to visit me in Honolulu, I’d take you to breakfast at the Cream Pot, grab malasadas at Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery, take a hike up Lanikai Pillboxes, and then end it with a late lunch at Ai Love Nalo and shave ice at Uncle Clay’s. You’d definitely need a nap after that food-filled adventure.
If you could take one local celebrity to lunch, who would you take? Where would you go?
I’d take out Wally Amos (aka Famous Amos) to my favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Honolulu, Helena’s Hawaiian Food. If you don’t know Wally Amos’ story, he started out as a talent agent to the stars, created Famous Amos Cookies, subsequently lost his business, and now has a product called Cookie Kahuna which was recently featured this past year on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank.’ Wally’s tenacity, energy and positivity at the age of 80, is unbelievably inspiring. Circling back to the food – Helena’s Hawaiian Food, is a must eat when you visit Honolulu for truly local fare that is still family owned and operated after 70 years. Their pipikaula short ribs are insane.
Just can’t get enough of Emi H? Follow her on Yelp! If you still want more, follow Yelp Hawaii on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, she continues to explore Honolulu and beyond.
