Christine and Sam Heidama turned a fiber arts hobby into a full-on llama and alpaca experience on the slopes of Haleakalā. The animals are stealing hearts at weddings, hikes, and everything in between.
New leadership team includes founder's daughter, Bo Tanaka, who promises continuity as well as creativity in an evolving and volatile market.
Hawaiʻi's craft beer market is bucking a national trend in declining sales, for now at least. Local breweries say island drinking habits, creative new flavors and the steady demand among tourists for local brews has made the difference.
Hawaiʻi is known for, and is rightly proud of, its entrepreneurial spirit. But like so many other parts of the country, Hawaiʻi is facing economic headwinds that could cause significant change. These include rising insurance costs, affordable housing, a shortage…
Whether a side hustle or full-time pursuit, these ventures are vital in coping with Hawai‘i’s steep cost of living.
BEHawai‘i and the Lei Poinaʻole Project hope to boost local lei flower production and strengthen the art of lei making in the Islands. Despite origins linked to Hawaiian culture, lei sold here now often come from foreign sources.
Management guru Luke Williams says companies need to rethink everything about their businesses to stay competitive, including staying in the game by investing in "wasteful" learning.
In our annual Hawaii Business ranking of most profitable companies, Matson took the crown for a fourth year. But the bigger story was the huge loss by Hawaiian Electric, linked to the Maui fires settlement.
Brendan and Jill Barry’s Bead It! is stocked with jewelry-making materials and offers classes in soldering, drilling and other techniques.
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award winner: Co-founders Jacob Kahiapo and Mash Hatae want to be “exemplary models of responsible tourism.”
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award winner: Owner Sadie Akamine has spent five decades in the “very emotional business” of flowers.
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award winner: Mother-and-daughter team Kathy and Jodie Yamashiroya run the family business – Hawai‘i’s only union printing shop.
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award winner: Owner Katie Bennett’s background in law and sociology helps her navigate custody issues.
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award winner: Owner and mechanic Alan Nakamura works to earn customers’ trust in the family business.
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award Hall of Fame: Pua and Heather Rochlen run the family business started in 1964, with six stores across three islands.
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award winner: President Al Kakazu says his main job is to make the customers’ job easier.
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award winner: Roy and Kathy Sakuma operate four studios on O‘ahu, and would “never say no to any parent.”
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award Hall of Fame: Michael and Ursula Hirao make and sell mochi and other Japanese treats from their Iwilei facility.
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Awards Hall of Fame: Lawrence Fujiwara is the third-generation owner of this historic landmark in ‘Ālewa Heights.
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award winner: Co-founders Lawrence Boone and Seneca Klassen grow cacao trees on O‘ahu’s North Shore for their chocolate bars.
Meet 13 local companies that create, repair, innovate, feed, entertain, sustain and thrive. Two are new inductees to the Hawai‘i Small Business Hall of Fame.
Tip Top Motel, Cafe & Bakery’s bestselling oxtail soup uses Chinese and mustard cabbage, long rice, bamboo shoots, green onion and plenty of meat.
A Bluesky executive keynotes a major event for women entrepreneurs on May 2 that helps them finance, launch and grow their businesses.
The nonprofit Project Recover and divers with Honolulu-based Legion Undersea Services help bring closure for families.