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One case study so far — built carefully, launched fast, built to serve customers.

Lotus Café — Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Built during employment at Lotus Café as an internal project — included here as a real example of the work.

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6Pages Built
1 WeekTo Launch
FullyCustom Built
100%Company Owned
$0Platform Fees
ToastPOS Integrated
Web Design Mobile-First Toast POS Integration Online Ordering Digital Menu Private Events Booking Video Hero Google Maps Fast Loading No Platform Fees
lotuscafehawaii.pages.dev
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01

A platform that cost too much and didn't do enough.

Lotus Café was paying monthly for a third-party restaurant platform they couldn't fully control. Features that were supposed to work often didn't, and any meaningful change required going through the platform's limited tools.

Worse, the site looked like every other restaurant on the same platform. Customers on phones got a clunky experience, the menu was hard to navigate, and there was no way to handle private event inquiries.

02

A new site built around the business — not around a platform.

The platform was dropped. A new site was designed specifically for Lotus Café — their brand, their menu, their customers. The goal: make it easy for anyone to find what they need in a few taps, whether on a phone outside or planning a private event.

Six pages, launched in a week: a homepage with an atmospheric video, a food menu with eight browsable categories, a drinks menu with seasonal specials, a private events page with a working inquiry form, a careers page, and online ordering connected to their Toast POS.

This project was completed during my time working at Lotus Café. It's included here as a genuine example of the work — not a client project.

HomepageVideo hero that captures the café atmosphere, with gallery, reviews, and location info
Food Menu8 tabbed categories — easy to browse on mobile, with full pricing and descriptions
Drinks MenuFull espresso bar menu including seasonal Spring 2026 specials
Private EventsClear info on capacity and event types, with a simple inquiry form that goes straight to the inbox
Careers PageJob application form with availability and location preferences
Online OrderingToast POS connected directly — customers can order pickup without leaving the site
03

Fast, lightweight, and built to last without ongoing platform costs.

No website builders, no monthly platforms. Built specifically for Lotus Café — that's what keeps it fast, easy to update, and free from recurring platform fees.

DesignCustom — no templates, built for the Lotus Café brand
MobileDesigned for phones first — where most customers browse
FormsPrivate events inquiries and job applications delivered to inbox
OrderingToast POS connected — customers order pickup directly from the site
VideoHomepage video that loads fast without slowing the page down
MapsGoogle Maps embedded — one tap to get directions from anywhere
HostingFast, reliable, and running at no ongoing cost
Ownership100% owned by the business — no lock-in, no ongoing fees
04

A site that looks like Lotus Café — and works the way customers expect.

Warm, welcoming, and worth visiting — the site captures what makes Lotus Café worth going to. The homepage video sets the tone before anyone walks in. The menu is easy on any phone. The events page makes inquiring simple. The ordering flow works.

The business owns it completely — no platform fees, no waiting on a third party, no generic template limiting the brand.

Replaced a paid platform — no more monthly fees
Menu is easy to navigate on any phone
Online ordering live via Toast POS
Private events inquiries going straight to inbox
Designed and launched within one week
100% owned by the business — no lock-in

See it live.

The Lotus Café website is live and serving customers across Kaimuki and Kailua.

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More work coming soon.

Groundwork Studios is currently building for local businesses across Oʻahu. New projects will be added here as they go live.

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