Donna O.
Yelp
I'm glad we still have Nene Goose Bakery serving the Windward side of the island. The bakery reminds me of the Watanabe bakery but on a smaller scale. The quiet but sweet & patient lady in the front is the baker's wife and her husband does all the baking! Wow! They open early and close early afternoon so it's best to go early to get your favorites or choice of pastries before they run out! If you go near the last half hour of their closing time, she may have some pastries bagged together for a reduced price!
If I still remembered correctly that I was told by his wife that he did learn from Mr. Watanabe and he did helped them set up when they first opened their bakery. Probably can see similarities in the pastries which is so delicate and delicious!
You can spend an arm and leg since most of their pastries are from just under $2 to over $3 per donut/pastry. Just make sure you bring enough cash since they are a cash only bakery. If you're in a rush and there is a line, probably best to come another time since she does take her time and make sure everything is filled correctly. I give her credit not to get stressed & they seem to managed all these years with just the two of them.
She now have an erasable "write"board to write down your pastry order. She used to write it down on the post-it notes but her husband bought her this so she can be paperless! She did said it's a little too heavy to carry around as she pack the orders in the box. Note, you have to spend at least $10 to have your pastries boxed otherwise it'll be bagged.
I do like their anpan with mochi inside, cute animal breads, savory breads. I'm a big fan of her 1/2 loaf multi-grain bread which has no egg, milk or sugar inside and it taste so light and moist. The spinach bread is different too. It's great having it toasted! I freeze their breads since there are no preservatives in the bread but it's so soft if you eat it fresh. The size is similar to the Japanese large square bread. They also sell their 1-2 days old breads at a discounted price to the right as you entered.
They have sometimes custard & pumpkin pies to the left, cake donuts, individual pizza, fancy filled pastries, but I love the savory ones the best.
I asked my mom again how we are related to the wife and she said it was my grandpa's cousin is the wife's grandma through her father side. In the past I thought it was distance relationship through marriage. Can't confirm with my Grandma since she has passed but if it wasn't for the elders I wouldn't have known. Her father knew my grandparents but he has passed on too but his daughter only knew of us through what I told her. Small island and we may related to many and not know.
If you ever in Kailua area in the morning it's worth checking out Nene Goose Bakery! It's near the Kailua Cinema in the little shopping complex next to Texaco Gas Station but not the Enchanted Lake Shopping Center with Safeway and McDonalds. They are closed on Tuesday & Wednesday and open Thursday - Monday from 6am-1pm.
Thanks for reading. =)