Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebekah Ball.
Hi Rebekah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Simply Aloha: Serving heart, Culture, and Community in Every Plate
For Rebekah Ball, the journey behind Simply Aloha didn’t begin in a commercial kitchen or with a business plan – it began at home.
“I just wanted to feed my family good food,” she says.
Her cooking reflected the life she knew -an intersection of cultures and comfort. Korean dishes, soul food staples, and local Hawai’i favorites filled her kitchen. It wasn’t about labels or categories. It was about flavor, memory, and love.
After relocating to South Carolina, that connection to food became even more meaningful.
“I missed home,” she explains. “Food was the closest way to bring that comfort and familiarity back into my life.”
So she started cooking the dishes she grew up with – chicken katsu, musubi, meat jun, fried rice – alongside Southern staples like collard greens, fried chicken, mac and cheese and cornbread. What began as a personal way to stay connected to her roots quickly became something more.
Family and friends took notice. The reactions were immediate and heartfelt. People weren’t just enjoying the food, they were feeling it.
“That’s when it clicked,” she says. “I realized I could make people happy by feeding them.”
With encouragement from her husband, Cameron Ball, what started as passion began to take shape as a business.
A Grassroots Beginning
Simply Aloha was built from the ground up.
“It started simple,” Rebekah says. “The spirit of aloha, feeding people and filling their spirits.”
What makes Simply Aloha even more special is that it remains a true two-person operation. Rebekah and Cameron are the hands behind everything – prepping, cooking, serving, and connecting with every customer who walks up.
There was no roadmap. No handbook for launching a food trailer. Instead, there were long hours spent navigating inspections, regulations, paperwork, and the realities of running a food business.
“It was a lot more than we expected,” she admits. “But we figured it out as we went.”
Word of mouth became their greatest asset. One plate led to another, one customer became ten, and slowly, the business grew.
Lessons Along the Way
Like many small businesses, the journey came with its share of growing pains.
One of the biggest? Over-prepping.
“We can laugh about it now,” she says, “but there were so many events where we cooked enough to feed the entire Upstate.”
It was a learning curve that required both humility and adaptation. With guidance from experienced vendors, Simply Aloha found its rhythm, learning how to better anticipate demand while maintaining quality and freshness.
Food with a Story
At the heart of Simply Aloha is something deeper than just a menu – it’s legacy.
“Every dish has a story,” Rebekah says.
Her shoyu chicken traces back to her tutu (grandma), who made it for family gatherings on the North Shore. The gravy? That’s her mother’s recipe. Even the boiled peanuts carry family roots, inspired by her uncle.
“These aren’t just recipes,” she explains. “They’re pieces of our family, passed down with love.”
That sense of connection, across generations, cultures, and communities, is what defines the Simply Aloha experience.
More Than a Business
What truly sets Simply Aloha apart isn’t just the food – it’s the purpose behind it.
Through their “Blessing Plates” initiative, the business accepts donations that go directly toward feeding those facing food insecurity. From local elementary schools to therapists and community resource groups, the impact continues to grow.
“We want to make sure people are taken care of,” Rebekah says.
Their commitment to giving extends beyond South Carolina. Following recent storms in Hawai’i, Simply Aloha donated a portion of proceeds to support families in need – helping provide fresh food and assist in rebuilding homes.
A Taste of Home, A Place to Belong
Today, Simply Aloha stands as more than a food trailer. It’s a gathering place built by two people with a shared vision and a lot of heart.
For Kama’aina living in South Carolina, it offers a taste of home. For others, it’s an introduction to a rich and vibrant culture. For everyone, it’s a space to connect over food, stories, and shared experience.
“This is bigger than us,” Rebekah says. “It’s about community. It’s about culture. It’s about bringing people together.”
And in every plate made and served by Rebekah and Cameron, that mission is clear.
Simply Aloha isn’t just feeding people, it’s creating something lasting, one plate at a time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What sets us apart from others? Rebekah didn’t visit Hawai’i a few times, really enjoy the food, and try to recreate the dishes. She grew up with this food and was a part of this process. She stays true to the authenticity of the dishes.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Rebekah and Cameron don’t believe in luck. They believe in hard work and blessing from God.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.simplyalohafood.com
- Instagram: simplyalohaofficial
- Facebook: Simply Aloha
