Pung! Clicking Tiles and the Business of Mahjong
At tables across O‘ahu and around the state, women are quietly building something more than mahjong hands — they’re building networks, businesses and above all, camaraderie.
Small Business
The Best of Small Business in Hawaiʻi 2026
Celebrating Small Business Success! Congratulations to this year’s Best of Small Business honorees. We’re proud to recognize the work you’re doing across our communities. Small businesses like yours are the backbone of our state, creating jobs and providing essential products…
Hawaii Tech Support: A Guiding Force
In a fast-changing world, HTS focuses on partnerships to keep clients supported and thriving.
Hawaii Estate & Jewelry Buyers: Treat Customers Like Family
Founder Moshe Hakemolo values building a multigenerational legacy over short-term profit.
Ferraro Choi: Purpose-Driven Architecture
The firm builds more than structures - it supports cultural and environmental resiliency.
Pural Water: Powering Invisible Infrastructure
From family roots to employee ownership, Pural Water has built its reputation on technical excellence, long-term partnerships and a people-first culture - quietly keeping Hawai‘i’s most essential systems running.
Grand Hawaii Electric: Wired for Success
From apprentice to solo owner-operator, Johny Le turned hard, sometimes dirty work into a thriving business.
TY Realty: Home Away From Home
Rooted in a quiet patriotism, this family-owned business serves the military community - and beyond.
Morning Brew: 31 Years of Local Coffee
The couple started with a cart and, all these years later, are launching their third location on O‘ahu.
The Unplanned Success of Char's Bar Hawai‘i
Char's Bar Hawai‘i wasn't built on a five-year plan. It was built on trust, grit, and the values two Filipino-American women carried from the generations before them.
A Deep Dive into Hawai‘i’s Shell Jewelry Industry
The journey of a seashell from the reef to a pendant on a gold chain is a fascinating tale made increasingly relevant as a burgeoning business takes shape. Three Hawai‘i artisans who make jewelry from shells talk about their craft as well as the ethics of shelling for commerce and for personal collections.
Hawaii Entrepreneur Awards 2026
25 years of honoring outstanding local startups and innovation.
Readers pick The Local General Store for People’s Choice Award, Hawaii Entrepreneurs Award
Both born and raised in Honolulu, Harley and Jason took different paths before returning to food. Harley began in the sciences before discovering a passion for pastry in San Francisco, where she trained in top bakeries and developed her signature…
Meli James Is Rewriting the Rules for Hawai‘i's Entrepreneurs
As co-founder of Mana Up and president of the Hawai‘i Venture Capital Association, Meli James has spent a decade proving that building a world-class company doesn't mean leaving the Islands behind.
Llamas With a Purpose: Inside Maui's Most Unexpected Farm
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.
Tanaka of Tokyo Restaurant Chain Founder Shares Tales of Survival as He Passes Baton
New leadership team includes founder's daughter, Bo Tanaka, who promises continuity as well as creativity in an evolving and volatile market.
Hey Bartender! Serve Me Another Craft Beer!
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.
Four Paths to Consider Before Exiting A Business
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…
Turning Passion Into Profit: How Hawai‘i Entrepreneurs Are Building Businesses at Local Markets
Whether a side hustle or full-time pursuit, these ventures are vital in coping with Hawai‘i’s steep cost of living.
Reviving Hawaiʻi’s Lei Industry One Flower at a Time
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.
How to Grow Your Business? Waste Money
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.
Matson Tops Our Most Profitable List, But Hawaiian Electric Posted Outsized Loss
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.
This Kaimukī Shop Helps Customers Make Their Own Jewelry
Brendan and Jill Barry’s Bead It! is stocked with jewelry-making materials and offers classes in soldering, drilling and other techniques.
Mana Cruises and Charters Operates Three Small Vessels in Waikīkī and Ko Olina
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award winner: Co-founders Jacob Kahiapo and Mash Hatae want to be “exemplary models of responsible tourism.”