Rise Of The Female Entrepreneur: The Momoki Twins

Rise Of The Female Entrepreneur: The Momoki Twins

The Aha Momoki Moment. Sometimes you have to have a breakdown to have a break through.

Interview by Jessica Gize

The aha moment was during COVID for Momoki twins Shirley and Eva. As COVID swept through the world, Shirley ended up unemployed and Eva was laid off. Shirley had to decide whether she should venture onward to the next job or take this moment to really reflect on what she wanted in life. She spoke with her sister, asked friends, and went on a personal journey, discovering an answer that may have been with her all along. People may see it as a knee-jerk reaction, but this wasn’t a sudden thought that occurred. The seed was planted in 2013 while Shirley was an elementary school teacher at the same school as her sister Eva. The twins noticed they needed to create healthy meals for themselves as teachers to keep up through the hectic days and “honestly maintain the energy of our students,” said Eva. So we started bringing in our boxed lunches that were healthy meals and easy to grab and go. The other teachers began to notice these meals as well as the parents of students. They started nicknaming them “Momoki Meals.” These meals became popular, and many people told us we should launch them and start a company. We found ourselves busy as teachers, but the entrepreneurial seed was planted.

Momoki Meals

The decision to move forward really came to be around Thanksgiving of 2020. “We met with Upuia Ahkiong, founder of WELA, and it just seemed that the timing was right. Eva stated, “We felt we had a team of women willing was not just helpful but to also give that boost of energy to achieve, even the most mundane or scariest of items to accomplish,” Eva Said. As we continued to talk with other people about our idea, we realized that our path was the right one, and it really started with our parents.

Their father was a restauranteur, and his “food” they described as his love language. He wasn’t big into showing affection, but he always worked hard on giving you food with love. “We do have emotions in our food, said Shirley, “it is not just about nutrition but about caring,” she said, “and every time I cook, I think to myself this is going to be loved.” You can tell that when you eat food made with love, it creates comfort. And Dad wasn’t the only parent to influence their life goal. Their mom had a deep value placed on food in her own way, the value on family mealtime. “TV off, and we’re having a family dinner,” Eva said, emulating her mother with a strong tone. “She taught us not to just have a family meal but how to make a meal an event because it was a time to spend together,” Eva said. And Mom was their number one fan. When they were around 8 years old, even if we made shredded carrots, she would act like they were the best-shredded carrots she ever ate. And Shirley knew her mom was tested at least once with her unending cheering, “One time I used ½ tsp of cayenne instead of chili powder, thinking what’s the difference?” Her mom just smiled and said that it had excellent flavor and was creative, as tears arrived into her mom’s eyes and slowly rolled down her cheeks.

They definitely do look alike and enjoy many of the same activities, but these two women have different personalities and strengths, leading to a perfect partnering. “We had someone comment about watching us in the kitchen as if they were watching two dancers in sync. “It’s second nature to us as to what the other person is doing, said Eva, “I know when I hear a certain clank of a pan or the stir of a spoon what step Shirley is at completing a meal.”

Is the entrepreneurial spirit here to stay? “I can’t imagine going back into the corporate world,” said Shirley, “so yes, I am completely in.” Eva is doing it as a side hustle and willfully join when the timing is right.

The Momoki twins are here to share their unity and love of food with others. They will achieve either by creating healthy alternative ideas besides a sandwich for a busy student or teacher or harmony for a table of 20. These entrepreneurial twins are right in step with a chef they immensely admire, Jacque Pepin, who stated, “cooking is like love; it should be entered into with abandon or not at all.”

Q&A with Shirley and Eva

Q: The most challenging thing about starting up? A: Shirley: Building a website. Just getting myself to figure it all out and get it started. Eva: Trepidation of saying yes to day one. How and where do we start.

Q: One word to help you relax: A: Eva: SMILE - I remind myself to smile, and it helps me be present Shirley: BREATHE - It honestly takes my shoulders down immediately.

Q: Fill in the blank. Other female e ntrepreneurs give us..? A: Eva: Inspiration Shirley: Motivation

www.momokitwins.com