Story & Lesson Highlights with Nikki Savella of Hilo

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Nikki Savella. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Nikki, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A typical day for me starts early — around 5:30am — with journaling, a Bible devotional, and a quiet cup of coffee before the day begins. I take my girls to school, then head to CrossFit to get my energy up for the day.

By around 10am, I’m at the bakery and fully in work mode — checking in with my team, making sure production is running smoothly, answering emails, managing social media, and handling whatever comes my way. As a small business owner, I wear all the hats, so every day looks a little different, but it always centers around keeping things flowing and creating a positive atmosphere for both the team and our customers.

In the afternoons, I pick up my girls from school, then head back to the bakery until it’s time for sports. After practice, it’s home for dinner, family time, and getting ready to do it all again the next day. It’s a full schedule, but it’s a life I’m grateful for — balancing faith, family, and business.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Nikki Savella, the owner and founder of The BOOM! in Hilo — formerly known as Cupcakes, BOOM! — a bakery and café rooted in faith, family, and community. What started 10 years ago in my small 2 bedroom home kitchen with my Grandma’s KitchenAid mixer has grown into a full retail bakery known for its over-the-top desserts, French macarons, and “bougie” coffee drinks that make people smile the moment they walk through our doors and into our very pink bakery.

What makes The BOOM! unique is the heart behind it. Everything we do is about celebration — celebrating people, milestones, and the goodness of God in every season. Our space is designed to uplift and remind people of who they are and Whose they are.

Beyond the bakery, I also lead BOOM! Wahine, a community of women business leaders across Hawaiʻi. We focus on connection, collaboration, and helping women build bold, faith-driven businesses. Right now, we’re expanding The BOOM! café experience and continuing to grow BOOM! Wahine across the islands — all while staying true to the mission: God, Family, Community.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Growing up, I believed that success only came with a degree or a “perfect plan.” I thought people who made it had all the credentials and connections — and that someone like me, from a small town, couldn’t build something big without that.

Now, standing here as a mom, a wife, and the owner of a thriving bakery in the same town I was born and raised, I know that’s not true. I’ve learned that faith, grit, and heart can take you places that formal education alone never could. I didn’t have a roadmap or fancy business training — I just had a vision, a strong work ethic, and a deep love for my community.

What I believe now is that God qualifies the called. And when you show up with humility, consistency, and purpose, you can build something that not only provides for your family — but also pours back into the place that raised you.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell her, don’t give up. You are absolutely enough — and more than capable of everything God’s calling you to do. There will be seasons that feel unbearable — seasons where you’ll cry in your car, question if you’re built for this, and wonder if it’s even worth it. But you’ll overcome every single obstacle that comes your way.

Every “no” will build your character. Every setback will strengthen your faith. And every hard season will become the foundation of your story. The grind will be real — long nights, early mornings, and moments of doubt — but you’ll find that the strength to keep going is already inside you.

You’ll learn that success isn’t about never falling — it’s about rising every time you do. And one day, you’ll look around at your business, your family, and your community and realize: you did it. You didn’t quit. You became everything you were meant to be.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely — one thousand percent. What you see is exactly who I am. I’ve always valued being real, raw, authentic, and genuine. You get what you get with me — no filters, no façade — because I think it’s so important to show the good, the bad, and the ugly.

My community knows the real Nikki. They’ve seen the highs, the struggles, and everything in between, and I think that’s what makes the connection so strong. I never want people to see just the highlight reel — I want them to see the heart behind it all.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I loved God, my family, and my community with my whole heart. That I showed up — even when it was hard — and poured into others with everything I had. That I built something meaningful right here in the town I was born and raised in, not just a bakery, but a space where people felt seen, celebrated, and loved.

I hope they say I was a woman who never gave up — who faced every challenge with faith and fire, and who believed that ordinary people could do extraordinary things with the right heart and hustle.

And most of all, I hope the story they tell isn’t about what I accomplished, but about how I made people feel. That I reminded them that they were enough, that they mattered, and that they could rise again no matter how many times life tried to knock them down.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cupcakesboom.com
• Instagram: @cupcakesboom
• Facebook: @cupcakesboom
• Yelp: Cupcakes, BOOM!

Image Credits
Haunani Miyasato, Ki’i Kalo Photography