The “taco truck” or Tacos Vicente has become a new favorite place to eat for the residents of Laie and the entire North Shore. Tacos Vicente is an authentic Mexican restaurant-on-wheels founded by Axel Diaz and Ryan Hitz, both students at Brigham Young University–Hawaii.
“We came to the conclusion that a lot of people want good Mexican food in Hawaii,” says Axel, a native of Cuernavaca, Mexico, and a senior studying secondary education. “They always asked me where I recommend they go to eat Mexican food.” Out of this was born the idea of starting a taco truck that would satisfy the demand for authentic Mexican food. Axel and Ryan entered the business plan competition sponsored by the Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship (CIE) in winter 2010 and landed a second place cash prize that allowed them to get started with the business. Seven months later, on September 3, 2010, they opened Tacos Vicente to the public in Laie and the North Shore area, bringing on board Ryan’s brother David to help with the business. “It’s been amazing for me to compare our business plan to what we are running right now and to see that it really was what we put on the business plan,” Axel says.
David, a sophomore from Colorado studying international cultural studies, said, “It’s been a lot of work, but it’s fun. It’s enjoyable, and it’s growing,” referring to the success Tacos Vicente is having on the North Shore. Axel agrees: “Laie has been really good to Tacos Vicente.”
CIE and the classes that BYU–Hawaii offers have played an important role in the realization of this entrepreneurial venture. According to David, the education they have gained here and the experience with the business go hand in hand; they teach one another. The goal of CIE is to educate and mentor budding entrepreneurs such as the owners of Tacos Vicente. “Having mentors here to look up to really helps,” David says.
Tacos Vicente’s growth is a direct result of the owners’ excitement to apply what they are learning at Brigham Young University–Hawaii and the CIE. “Talk to people around you and see what they think about your idea…don’t give up on your idea, but listen to what they tell you,” is Axel’s advice when it comes to starting a business.
Community and students can find the taco truck every Tuesday on Naniloa loop across from TVA, and Thursdays and Saturdays on Kamehameha Highway between Pipeline and Sunset beach.
[View clips from an interview with the owners of Tacos Vicente or click here to visit their website]
Photo by Felix Callejas