Author: Ashley Shaffer

Hawaii’s Record-Breaking Coral

Hawaii’s vast and diverse coral not only dazzles the eye, some of it startles the imagination. The oldest marine creature in the world is believed to be a 4,265-year-old deep-water black coral discovered in 2004 off Makapuu at Oahu’s eastern tip.…

Tealet: Startup in a Cup

When you think of innovative startups, what usually comes to mind are tech companies that create something new – a mini-revolution. Instead of high-tech, think about tea, one of the oldest drinks on the planet. That’s what Elyse Petersen does:…

Boom in the Hawaii Gun Business

Imagine a retail business in which one key measure of sales growth was up 42.2 percent last year, with similar growth this year. You’d be on Easy Street, right? Except this same business is plagued by a perennial problem: Customers…

Yelp Me

Some local businesses have an anxious relationship with Yelp, the international website that carries consumer reviews about everything from restaurants and stores, to auto mechanics and plumbers, and even hikes and radio stations. They say there are several reasons for…

My Wish is to Create a Business

12-year-old struggling with serious illness named Entrepreneur of the Year Skylar Soares’ accomplishments are remarkable considering the 12-year-old entrepreneur created her business while contending with three life-threatening medical conditions. Make-a-Wish Hawaii helped Skylar realize her dream: designing a fashionable hat…