A Quick Clean For Cars

More than 200 cars visit Sudz in Puhi every day | Coco Zickos photos

Please tell us about your business.

Tim: Sudz Car Wash is a 90-foot conveyor tunnel car wash located in Puhi. We offer three options — a “Basic” package ($8) which is just a wash and dry, a “Basic Plus” ($10) which is a wash and dry with a polish and we have “The Works” package ($12) which is a wash and dry, triple foam polish and a tire shine.

Jay: We also have our optional lava flow, which is a carnauba wax. In addition, we are adding an express detail option soon for interior cleaning for $39.99.

How does the car wash work?

Tim: You stay in the car the entire time. We have a mobile POS (point of sale) system, and our employees take your payment before you enter the wash. You’re done in 3 minutes and you never have to get out of your car. You go along for a ride and it’s actually a great experience. In fact, a lot of people come in just because their kids want to go through the car wash.

Why did you start this business?

Tim: There was a definite need for the population base within Lihue and the surrounding area for this kind of car wash.

What are your other full-time jobs?

Tim: I am a grant coordinator at KCC and a business instructor.

Jay: I’m a contractor and own E. Murata Construction.

Tim: We saw the need, and Jay and I are yin and yang. He balances me out. I’m the Type A serial entrepreneur, and Jay balances that by helping harness the horse. I have the business know-how and the research for the operation, and Jay can get it built.

Jay: We were actually 101 Financial students and met through that.

How has business been?

Jay: It’s been awesome.

We average about 200 cars a day. But I’m still learning a lot as I go. We are so thankful to the people of Kauai and the people who have helped us through this process.

Tim: We absolutely, positively could not do this without the community backing us and everyone’s support — financially and emotionally. These businesses are only a success when the community buys into the services we are providing. From day one, the community bought into Sudz Car Wash.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your business?

Tim: Filling a true need. In business, I’ve always learned the money will be there. The money is secondary and it’s a by-product. If you don’t have a passion for what you do, you can make any amount of money in the world and it’s not going to be right.

Jay: It’s also about being able to give back to the community through jobs. We have three employees on staff on any given day. We’re a locally owned company based in Lihue and our money stays here.

What’s the most challenging aspect of your business?

Jay: There’s something every day, mostly mechanical.

Tim: The first six months Jay and I didn’t sleep at all.

Are you still here every day?

Tim: We are not absentee owners. We stick our heads in every day and work shifts. My wife Kim and Jay’s wife Corrine are partners in the business as well, and they help work shifts. At any given point of time during the day, an owner has their hand on this business.

What are your plans for the future?

Tim: We are exploring a second Sudz in Kapaa.

Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays
4369 Pahee St., Lihue