Sherry Anne Rubiano
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 28, 2007 12:00 AM

Lisa Wagenknecht and Gary Johnson discovered Kona coffee on a Maui vacation two years ago. The Glendale couple loved it so much they decided to open a store selling the Hawaiian joe to Valley residents.

Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies debuted this month at Peoria and 59th avenues in Glendale. "We loved the concept," Wagenknecht said. "It'''s something different. It's something fun."

Maui Wowi sells coffees in various Hawaiian blends and smoothies in tropical flavors like mango orange, strawberry and passion papaya. A retail section includes Hawaiian tea flavors, macadamia cookies and Maui Wowi T-shirts and hats. This is the Maui Wowi store prototype, with its specific decor and merchandise.

Customers who visit will see lots of trinkets and photos from the islands: surfers and hula dancers, tiki poles and pineapples. The staff will greet them with "alohas."

Wagenknecht, 33, is the primary owner. For the past 10 years, she has worked up to manage a lab where she analyzed chromosomes. She gave up that career to head Maui Wowi.

"This was my baby," she said, referring to the business.

Johnson, 36, is the business's co-owner and director of sales and marketing. He currently works as the director of product management for a medical-billing software company.

They hired Wagenknecht's father, Alan, as construction co-coordinator and store manager.

Since opening this month, Maui Wowi has created a few regular customers. Wagenknecht said they have two goals for the business: To be successful and to introduce three retail locations in the West Valley in the next five years.