Food Trucks a Lifeline for Some Hawai‘i Chefs During Pandemic
A surge in food trucks began in 2008 during the Great Recession and the current economic crisis seems to have spurred further interest among entrepreneurs and chefs.
Entrepreneurship
"Talent Roadmap" Declares: Now is the Time to Reinvent Hawaiʻi's Economy
The coronavirus has put tens of thousands of local people out of work. Enhancing workforce development is the starting point, according to a report from the Hawaiʻi Executive Collaborative, which is based on input from almost 200 people. The economic impact…
Impact Hub to Rebrand and Open as The Hub Coworking Hawaiʻi
The leadership team at The Hub decided to depart from the global Impact Hub network in order to localize their efforts for Hawai’i and focus their attention on quick and nimble growth to better serve Hawai’i.
Nontoxic and Sustainably Created Nail Polish Products from the Big Island
Kapa Nui Nails is part of Mana Up’s fifth cohort of Hawai‘i-based companies Born on the island of Hawai‘i in Waimea, Kapa Nui Nails produces a complete line of clean and green high-performance nail products for the conscious consumer: polish,…
Kombucha and Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Created on Maui
Vitalitea Hawaiʻi is part of Mana Up’s fifth cohort of Hawai‘i-based companies Vitalitea Hawaiʻi is made on Maui by local craft brewers seeking a balance of healthy and delicious kombucha and nitro cold brew coffee using fresh pressed tropical fruits, roots…
Candles and Fragrances that Carry the Scent of Hawai‘i
Jules + Gem Hawai’i is part of Mana Up’s fifth cohort of Hawai‘i-based companies Jules + Gem Hawai‘i is a shop with locally made candles and fragrances created by Lana Gronwald. Gronwald was born and raised in Hawai‘i and always…
Candles Designed to Share the Spirit of Aloha
Aloha Elixir is part of Mana Up’s fifth cohort of Hawai‘i-based companies Keoki Tavares says he began Aloha Elixir as a way to share his passion for healing and using the power of focused intention as a way to help…
Natural skincare line from Hawai‘i Island continues a family tradition
Ua Body is part of Mana Up’s fifth cohort of Hawai‘i-based companies Ua Body continues a family natural skincare line formulated 30 years ago on the Island of Hawai‘i. Ua means rain in Hawaiian and speaks to the nurturing and…
Natural Products Designed for Children, Families and the Earth
Ao Organics Hawai‘i is part of Mana Up’s fifth cohort of Hawai‘i-based companies Ao Organics Hawai‘i was founded in 2017 when Chelsa Davis was pregnant with her third keiki. She says she created organic reef safe sunscreen as a safer…
Maui Farm Offers Award-Winning Vegan Kimchi and Fermented Products
Nāpili FLO Farm is part of Mana Up’s fifth cohort of Hawai‘i-based companies Nāpili FLO Farm started simply as a farm, a way for Monica Bogar to build a new life as a mother. Bogar says that when her son…
Company Focuses on Ethically Made Resort Wear for Women
Yireh is part of Mana Up’s fifth cohort of Hawai‘i-based companies Yireh says it is an ethically made women’s resort wear brand based on O‘ahu that focuses on empowering and encouraging women. The company says it has built a community…
Collective Founded by Kimié Miner Supports Local Musicians
Haku Collective is part of Mana Up’s fifth cohort of Hawai‘i-based companies Haku Collective was founded by singer-songwriter Kimié Miner as a full-service music, audio and talent production group. But the collective says it has since expanded to include an…
Stories of Hawai‘i Adorn Towels, Shirts, Bags and Other Items
Aloha Modern is part of Mana Up’s fifth cohort of Hawai‘i-based companies The lifestyle company Aloha Modern was conceived over cold beers and Mākaha sunsets by co-founders Malia Ka‘aihue and Reyn Mukawa. What started as a passion project between two…
Mana Up Launches Cohort 5 with 10-Hawai‘i-based Companies
Hawaii Business Magazine will unveil the companies this week online, starting with two today.
How to Get Startup Paradise to the Next Level
Hawai‘i’s startup community creates and nurtures plenty of early stage innovative companies but loses them before they scale into national and global players. Should we be happy with that storyline or should we try to change it? Twenty years ago,…
E-Wisdom for Hawai‘i’s E-Commerce Newbies
Good advice from digitally savvy entrepreneurs for those who want to increase their online sales. Second of two parts. The businesses interviewed for Part I in this series did not achieve success overnight. Here are some of the lessons they…
5 Steps to Buying a Business
We are continuing to publish stories researched and written before the COVID-19 crisis, such as this one. Thinking of buying a business? Zach DiIonno and Seth Buckley of Candela Law Group suggest five factors to consider. 1. Assets or…
Some Hawai‘i Startups Scramble to Survive, Others Enjoy New Opportunities
Hawai‘i startups are weathering the COVID-19 storm in different ways: Some are trying to survive by adapting and cutting cost, while others are experiencing an increase in demand. “Conserve capital and extend your runway,” advises Chenoa Farnsworth, a managing partner…
The Best of Startup Paradise
Profiles of the 25 winners and finalists of the 2020 Hawaii Venture Capital Association's Awards.
Coworking is the New Normal in Hawaiʻi
Less than five years ago coworking was considered to be a “movement” and possibly a trend that many believed would fade away. Fast forward to 2020 and coworking is it’s own industry that has disrupted the framework of office real-estate…
Local, Asian and Mainland Entrepreneurs and Investors Connect at East Meets West
Be prepared for much more than an exchange of business cards when entrepreneurs and investors from Asia and the Mainland meet with local businesspeople for the sixth annual East Meets West conference in Honolulu. “You’ll actually build relationships and have…
Local Businesses With Neighbor Island Headquarters
Who says you need to be based on O‘ahu to make it? These entrepreneurs opted for Neighbor Island headquarters and are expanding their businesses from hyperlocal hubs. The culture of capitalism worldwide has an urban-centric narrative that says to really…
Student Entrepreneurs Honored for Actual Businesses, Not Just Ideas
Anyone who saw Austin Yoshino jogging on Oct. 24 at the UH Mānoa campus while wearing headphones probably assumed he was listening to music or a podcast. He wasn’t: The 21-year-old was listening to his self-recorded practice pitch in preparation…
Climathon Working Locally To Create Global Impact
Local Participation In Honolulu, a diverse group of stakeholders convened to design the first Climathon for Honolulu. The group determined that reducing the human impact of tourism in Honolulu would be a great target area to start. This year, participating…