By JENNIFER MAIER / Community Columnist

A little taste of Hawaii has found its way to Columbiana, thanks to a couple who recently opened Coconut Girl Cafe on Main Street.

When talking to the owners, Roberta and Andra, it is easy to see that they are passionate about being a part of the Columbiana business community.

Andra said he met Roberta while he was stationed in Hawaii with the Marines. He is an Alabaster native. When he brought Roberta back to the states, he said she loved the area from the very beginning.

As they were looking for areas to open their restaurant, Columbiana just seemed to be the right place.

“Columbiana attracted me because it reminds me of my little hometown in Hawaii called Hilo,” said Roberta. “Columbiana is historical, but you can tell that there are people here that care.”

Roberta said her background in the restaurant business while living in Hawaii made her appreciate good quality food, which is as much a custom in Hawaii as it is in Alabama.

The restaurant will offer a variety of sandwiches and salads. Also offered will be smoothies and Kona coffee. Kona coffee is cultivated in the Kona districts on the big island of Hawaii and has a reputation as being one of the best coffees in the world by coffee connoisseurs.

Roberta firmly believes in using the freshest ingredients, and the smoothies are all made with fresh fruit such as strawberries, mangos, banana, peaches and pineapple.

Also on the menu are garden and chef salads as well as tuna and chicken salad.

Sandwiches and melts include turkey, ham, tuna salad, turkey salad and chicken salad.

The chicken salad has already made an impression on the clientele.

“Right now, I never knew it was going to be, but everyone loves my chicken salad. I seem to run out of it on a daily basis. I even doubled the amount I make and I still run out,” said Roberta.

In the future Roberta and Andra plan to offer daily specials and perhaps even some light breakfast items such as oatmeal bowls with fresh fruit and breakfast croissant.

Coconut Girl Cafe is located at 104 S. Main Street in downtown Columbiana. The hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.