Pharmacist, mom, nonprofit owner, teacher, and neighborhood ice cream vendor. She’s not Barbie, but she could be. Zoe Green’s long resume proves that you can be anything you want to be with a lot of hard work and a little faith.
Green started her career in health care as a pharmacist, working in retail pharmacy before transitioning to health insurance. But it wasn’t until she joined Ohana Medical Mission that she discovered her purpose.
“I went to the Philippines in 2013 to help with typhoon relief efforts,” she says. “It helped me realize just how important it is to play an active role in the community. I wanted to contribute, be a gardener of aloha and positivity, and an example for the younger generation.”
So, she switched career paths and has been teaching ever since. And when she’s not in the classroom, she’s riding an electric bike around her neighborhood, serving up ice cream treats and smiles to keiki and their families.
A step back in time
Equipped with a generator and freezer, Green bikes around, playing music from a speaker to let kids know a sweet, cool treat is just moments away. The simple operation started two years ago on a hot and muggy day in Kahaluu.
“I hooked up a trailer to my e-bike, and my nephew, Henry, grabbed all the popsicles we had from the freezer,” says Green. “Then, we went around the neighborhood.”
.jpg)
Green with her nephew, Henry.
She wanted the kids to experience the pure joy she felt during her childhood. Green fondly remembers the Kaneohe Manapua Man, who played music from his beat-up white van and sold a variety of snacks, drinks, and local comfort food.
“It makes families come outside together,” she says. “Nowadays, it’s harder for kids to go out or detach from their screens. But we’re taking a time machine back to simpler times.”
Building aloha spirit
The popsicles are also an investment in her community. Green enjoys talking story with the parents and kids, some of whom are in her class. It’s a time to connect with them outside the classroom.
Green with some of her customers.
“We’re seeing each other in a different light. When they see me at school, I’m an authority figure. But outside, we’re all just neighbors,” she says. “This is the community where my kids are growing up, too. And I want all the youth to see positive examples of giving back. That way, the momentum can grow and keep the beautiful aloha spirit going.”
Spreading smiles and togetherness
Green recently received a boost in her mission. She was named Joy Driver of the Year by national ice cream maker Good Humor's Neighborhood Joy Grant Program, which seeks to help local ice cream truck drivers and pushcart operators. Green received a $20,000 grant to fund her small ice cream operation. While she originally planned to invest her winnings in a truck or van, she decided she wanted to keep it local.
“I want to get better at biking,” says Green. “So, I’ve just been restocking and adding to what we already have. My husband helped me build more onto the bike, like a shave ice machine and syrups.”
The upgraded cart.
With Hawaii’s year-round warm weather, Green’s ice cream season never stops. And that’s just the way she likes it, as she bonds with her neighbors.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together,” she says. “And that’s how beautiful the spirit of Hawaii is.”
Photos courtesy Zoe Green
Doing good for the community
Read these inspirational stories about people making a difference in their communities and beyond.
the cooling power of trees
The most recent Urban Tree Canopy Assessment shows a decline of both the number of trees and their canopy cover. Find out how local nonprofit organizations and the City and County of Honolulu are working together to plant and care for new trees and protect existing ones.
hula at the royal palace
Kumu hula Nalani Keale’s auana (modern hula) class at the Queen Emma Summer Palace offers an ideal opportunity to experience the physical, cultural, and spiritual aspects of this cherished Hawaiian dance. Learn more about this class for adults and kupuna and the historical setting where the class takes place.
mana in music
The Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society hopes to restore Hawaiian music for both visitors and locals – not just as a source of entertainment, but also as a way to pass down the stories and traditions of Hawaii that’s told in mele. The organization’s president is Kuuipo Kumukahi, a longtime Hawaiian entertainer and Na Hoku Hanohano award winner, and she talks about ways they’re working to help keep Hawaiian music alive.
the ring finder: saving vacations and honeymoons
Joe Au-Franz spends his free time combing the beach for precious and sentimental treasures. But it’s not for his personal gain. “The Ring Finder” uses his metal detector (and sometimes scuba diving equipment) to find lost jewelry and return it to its owners. Find out why not all hope is lost when Au-Franz is on the job.
sharing hawaiian culture through kapa
Pukoa Studios uses kapa, a traditional fabric of ancient Hawaii, to create jewelry, accessories, and fine art, while also teaching the community about Hawaiian culture. Artist and designer Page Chang shares what it takes to make kapa and how her business is helping keep this ancient practice alive.
