Save Otto Cake

This effort is to raise funds to save OttoCake, the artisanal bakery in the Kaimuki area of Honolulu, Hawaii, and to provide financial assistance to its owner, Otto.  Like so many small businesses and individuals around the world, OttoCake and Otto have been financially devastated by the necessary quarantines and closures resulting from COVID-19 (aka Cornavirus).   

For the past 30 years, Otto has been providing delicious, made-from-scratch cheesecakes and other delicacies (carrot cake, brownies, coffee cake, shakes) to the people of Honolulu. Otto began creating cheesecakes in 1990, as a gift to his mother. Eventually, he opened a bakery in Honolulu (near the airport), then moved to Honolulu’s Chinatown. After enduring several years of crime and dangerous conditions there, in 2013 he moved OttoCake to its current location in Kaimuki, a cultural area with a burgeoning shopping, arts, and eatery scene.

A lifelong resident of Honolulu, Otto is well-known as the ‘Punk Rock Baker”. He’s been part of Honolulu’s punk rock scene since the 1980s, both as a music promoter and as a band member of The Sticklers and (currently) The 86 List. OttoCake succeeded in great part due to his participation in, and dedication to, Honolulu’s vibrant music culture. 

Otto has over 286 cheesecake flavors in his repertoire. Each and every cheesecake is made by hand exclusively by Otto.  Even during this pandemic, Otto continues to arrive at his bakery by 6 AM each day, seven days a week, to provide his customers with what has been called “arguably the best cheesecake on the island” by Zagat.

Otto’s life and his passions inspired a documentary film, “Ottomaticake”, directed and produced by Gemma Cuberio del Barrio, which premiered at the Hawaii International Film Festival in 2017. Ms. del Barrio decided to create the film because “... I realized Otto’s personal story could help others, inspire them to be themselves, and discover their full potential.”

For the past year, Otto has struggled to keep his bakery operating.  The rising costs of rent and raw materials has depleted his financial resources. And now, in the wake of the ongoing pandemic, OttoCake is on the verge of closing its doors forever.  The loss of tourism, combined with drastically reduced foot traffic and the necessary stay-at-home orders, are threatening to destroy this much loved Honolulu fixture.

Not only is Otto on the verge of losing his business, but also his home. OttoCake is his sole source of income.  Over the years, he has poured all his savings into the bakery’s maintenance and operations. Without additional financial support, Otto will be forced to completely shutdown OttoCake, and will be forced out of his rented home. Otto has not been able to obtain any of the Small Business stimulus aid .

OttoCake represents Otto’s life’s work; he has strived for decades to bring his dreams and his passions to the people of Honolulu.  Please, help him to continue his work and his life in Honolulu. Any contribution, large or small, is greatly appreciated. And, please pass along information about this fundraiser to anyone you know who may be familar with Otto and his bakery... or who just believes in helping someone who has dedicated his life to bringing joy to others.

Thank you, Mahalo nui loa, and ALOHA.

(For additional pics of OttoCake creations, please refer to ottocake.com , or Instagram @ottocake_official ).

*** This campaign has been created and is being managed by Howard Luck, a friend of Otto’s, on behalf of Otto and his many customers and friends in Honolulu. All proceeds will be directed to Otto.