Napoleon's Bakery

Aloha, Hawaii! When the craving hits for a classic local dessert—the kind that brings back childhood memories—there's one name that comes to mind for generations of residents: Napoleon's Bakery. This establishment isn't just a place to buy a treat; it's a cornerstone of the island's culinary landscape, providing the sweet backbone for celebrations, gatherings, and everyday indulgences across Oahu and beyond. Since its founding in November 1983 by Zippy's owners Francis and Charles Higa, Napoleon's Bakery has been dedicated to "Making Hawai'i Sweeter" with its commitment to quality and consistency.

The Waipahu location is a key part of the operation, not only serving the local community directly but also acting as a significant hub in the bakery's network. It is well-known for its delicious pies, cakes, and the truly iconic pastry that put Napoleon's on the map: the Napple. Whether you're planning a quick stop for a snack or picking up a full cake for a family party, this bakery is a reliable source for high-quality, handcrafted baked goods that maintain the familiar, comforting flavors that locals expect. They have successfully blended European-style baking techniques—the inspiration for their very name, drawn from the notable French figure—with the unique, beloved tastes of the islands, resulting in an array of products that are distinctly ono (delicious).

For many residents, Napoleon's Bakery is inextricably linked to the Zippy's restaurant chain, where their delicious products are sold at all Zippy's locations on Oahu, Kahului, and Hilo. However, the central production and retail spots, like the one in Waipahu, are where the magic—and the meticulous, large-scale operation—truly happens. This dual role as both a retail spot for individual customers and a wholesale provider for many other locations speaks to their consistent production volume and operational reliability.

Location and Accessibility for the Local User

The Napoleon's Bakery facility in Waipahu is conveniently situated to serve the West side of Oahu, making it a key destination for residents in the area. The address is 94-1068 Ka Uka Blvd, Waipahu, HI 96797, USA. This location's positioning allows for relatively easy access for drivers, especially those commuting or running errands in the Waipahu and Waipio Gentry areas. For your convenience, the bakery ensures that accessibility is a priority.

The bakery is specifically designed with customer ease in mind, offering both takeout service options for a quick grab-and-go experience. The focus here is on a quick visit, perfect for picking up a box of pastries on your way to work, a gathering, or simply for a midday treat. For those who require specialized access, the location is confirmed to offer essential accessibility features:

• Wheelchair Accessible Entrance
• Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot

You can reach out to the Waipahu location with any inquiries regarding orders, products, or daily specials using the following contact information. Please note that hours and availability for certain special items may vary, so a quick call is always a good idea.

Services Offered

As a comprehensive baking operation, Napoleon's Bakery in Waipahu offers an extensive range of products and services, catering to both individual customers and large-scale needs across the islands. Their offerings reflect a blend of classic American bakery staples, European-style pastries, and unique local Hawaii favorites.

• Retail Bakery Goods: The core business involves the daily production and sale of a vast array of freshly baked goods available for immediate purchase. This includes an assortment of pastries, doughnuts, pies, and cakes, making it a true 'sweet spot' for residents.
• Wholesale Bakery Services: The Waipahu location is also identified as a wholesale bakery, which means it serves as a central production facility for supplying Napoleon’s Bakery products to other retail outlets, including all Zippy's Restaurant locations on Oahu, Kahului, and Hilo. This ensures quality and consistency across all retail points.
• Signature Pastries (Napples): The famed Napple, a classic puff-pastry turnover, is available in popular year-round flavors like Apple and Coconut, along with occasional limited-time and seasonal flavors such as Ube or Pumpkin.
• Classic Cakes and Pies: Long-time local favorites like the Dobash Cake (a chocolate chiffon cake with a rich chocolate pudding filling), Chantilly Cake, Haupia Cake, and pies such as Custard Pie and Apple Pie are consistently available.
• Custom and Decorated Cakes: For special events like birthdays, graduations, and family gatherings, the bakery offers custom-decorated sheet cakes. These are available in various sizes (quarter, half, and full sheets) and can be customized with specific decorations, borders, wording, and even photos (available at Oahu locations).
• Doughnuts and Loaded Donuts: A wide variety of doughnuts, including the classic Glazed Doughnut, Long Johns, and cream-filled options, are a daily staple.
• Coffee: Hot coffee is available on the premises to pair perfectly with any pastry or treat for those seeking a quick, convenient refreshment.
• Takeout Service: The primary service model is takeout, allowing customers to quickly and easily pick up their orders to enjoy at home or take to an event.

Features / Highlights

Napoleon's Bakery has achieved legendary status in Hawaii, not just for its extensive menu but for a few key features that have built decades of loyalty and tradition among local families.

• The Iconic Napple: Invented in 1983 shortly after the bakery opened, the Napple is the signature item. Unlike ordinary fried turnovers, the Napple uses a classic puff-pastry dough, which is folded with butter to create a buttery, flaky texture. The most famous is the Apple Napple, a must-try for any visitor and a beloved weekly treat for locals.
• Hawaii’s Chocolate Dobash Cake: Often cited as the bakery's number one selling cake, the Dobash Cake features a moist chiffon base and a thick, creamy chocolate pudding filling. It is a unique-to-Hawaii item, and the bakery maintains the "same old-time recipe" that customers have loved since the 1950s.
• Focus on Quality and Consistency: The bakery prides itself on its consistency, maintaining its original recipes and quality ingredients for over 30 years. This reliability is why generations of families continue to choose Napoleon's for all their celebrations.
• Handcrafted with Aloha: Despite being a large-scale operation, many processes, such as pressing butter into the puff-pastry dough for Napples and filling, folding, and sealing individual pastries, are still done by hand. This attention to traditional baking techniques ensures a quality product.
• Local Community Connection: By operating out of Zippy's locations and being locally owned and operated by the Higa family, the bakery is deeply embedded in the Hawaii community, providing familiar and affordable treats that are considered a part of the local culinary identity.

It is important to acknowledge that some long-time customers have recently expressed a desire for the Apple Napple to return to its historical level of filling, a sentiment shared by some loyal patrons who feel the quality of the filling has decreased over time. The bakery is actively involved in the community and its leadership is generally cognizant of the changing tastes and feedback from its loyal customer base, suggesting a continued commitment to maintaining the beloved flavors that have made them a success for decades.

Contact Information

For fresh baked goods, custom cake orders, or inquiries for the Waipahu location, please use the following contact details:

• Address: 94-1068 Ka Uka Blvd, Waipahu, HI 96797, USA
• Phone: (808) 677-7710
• Mobile Phone: +1 808-677-7710
• Business Type: Bakery, Wholesale Bakery

What is Worth Choosing at Napoleon's Bakery

For someone in Hawaii looking for a genuine, high-quality, and deeply traditional local dessert, Napoleon's Bakery offers choices that are unmatched in their connection to the island culture. The value here is not just in the taste, but in the convenience and the nostalgia associated with every purchase. The bakery's offerings are designed to be enjoyed every day and by everyone, fitting perfectly into the fabric of local life.

If you are visiting for the first time, you must try the signature items. Start with the Apple Napple, the sweet, flaky, buttery puff pastry turnover that is the bakery’s claim to fame. Then, move on to the classic local birthday cake: the Dobash Cake. Its chiffon base and chocolate pudding filling are a time-honored tradition for celebrations across Oahu. For a rich, creamy, and distinctively local flavor, the Haupia Cake or a seasonal specialty like the Ube Napple when available, showcase the bakery's ability to incorporate Pacific-island ingredients into their traditional European-style base. Their array of pies, including the classic Custard Pie and seasonal favorites, also make them a popular choice for holiday gatherings and potlucks. The convenience, consistency, and the sheer variety of products that cater to the local palate make Napoleon's Bakery a beloved fixture and a definite go-to spot for satisfying any sweet tooth in Hawaii.

Napoleon's Bakery

94-1068 Ka Uka Blvd, Waipahu, HI 96797, USA