Kona Coffee Farmers Favor 100% Labeling Rule
These farmers want the Kona name to be reserved only for 100% Kona coffee.
Small Business
The Best of Startup Paradise
Profiles of the 25 winners and finalists of the 2020 Hawaii Venture Capital Association's Awards.
Local Restaurant Serves More than Delicious Food and a Fun Time
How two brothers are going beyond food service expectations For years, The Alley Restaurant at Aiea Bowl has provided Hawaii with a unique combination of delicious food in a fun-filled atmosphere locals have come to know and love. When brothers…
Adding “Wow” to Events
Events International has been planning, producing, marketing and servicing events throughout the Pacific since 1987. In 2017, it merged with Arch Hawaii, a custom design and fabrication shop – allowing the combined company to offer customers even more services. “We’re…
Plastics Ban: What’s Next
Local restaurants are seeking alternatives and worried about the costs, customer experiences and other challenges just as Oʻahu's new law restricting single-use plastics has business owners scrambling to comply.
Women Discuss the Challenges They Face in Family Businesses
Four women spoke with passion, intelligence and plenty of humor Thursday to a lunchtime audience about the challenges and successes they encounter as leaders in their family businesses. Kalei Cadinha-Pua‘a, CEO and vice chair of Cadinha & Co. LLC, a…
Korean Home Cooking
Korean Hibiscus BBQ offers traditional dishes localized for Hawai‘i Blake Nuibe, who’s been a customer of Korean Hibiscus BBQ for almost 15 years, calls it “the best Korean takeout on the island: fast, consistent, quality Korean food and the portions…
World’s Largest Hula Supplier
Aloha Hula Supply in Salt Lake hand makes many of the items it sells For more than 10 years, Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin has been buying hula implements and artificial lei for her hālau’s foreign performances from Aloha Hula Supply. “I…
The Female Factor
Does a founder’s gender shape the evolution of a startup? Three female founders reflect on how being a woman has defined their businesses. You’ve probably heard enough intriguing founders’ stories to know that an entrepreneur’s personal experiences and identity –…
Advice for Women Business Owners
There are many resources available to you, as a woman business owner, to enhance your leadership and grow your company. From building your peer network, to accessing government contracts, your banker can be a vital partner in your growth. Here…
How to Protect Hawaiʻi’s Companies from Cyberattacks
Thursday, January 1, 1970, 8:30 am - 10:30 am The phishing emails that clutter our inboxes are becoming more refined and harder to detect and are being joined by hacks on our social media, phones and other devices, said a…
Aloha Got Soul
Record label delivers new and old music from outside Hawai‘i’s mainstream oger Bong doesn’t want people to have a narrow idea of Hawai‘i. That’s one reason he shares unique and interesting music from Hawai‘i’s past and present with audiences worldwide.…
Here’s Why Small Businesses Need Data Security, Too
It’s a modern myth that SMBs are overlooked by cybercriminals. Verizon’s 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report revealed that 43% of data breaches targeted small businesses. One of the most common (and effective) tactics that scammers use is phishing. Imagine this—you…
Calling Women Who Are Leaders in Their Family’s Business
Full time business partner, full time family member – the typical woman in a family business has to juggle being the mom/wife/daughter/sister AND company leader. You see your family members at work and your business partners at home too. Sound…
The Value of Financial Audits for Fast-Growth Firms
Q: What is a financial audit? A: Before launching a growth strategy, an akamai CEO launches a financial audit, which is not listing QuickBooks accounting errors. Rather, it consists of 20 to 25 questions and is completed by the CEO,…
How to Choose A Growth Strategy
I recently participated in a Skype call with a successful midsize 10-year-old business on O‘ahu. It is owned by a committed and ambitious young man who wants to grow his company into a larger and more profitable operation. The owner…
EMSS Provides Business Solutions
EMSS focused on paper forms when it was founded 31 years ago; today, the company is “a one-stop shop” for paper, tech, consulting and many other solutions. Vietnam veteran Larry Watanabe was the manager of Oceanic Time Warner Cable’s information…
5 Steps to Being in Business with Your Spouse (Without Getting Divorced)
Family relationships are often challenging, but especially when that family is in business together. And working with your spouse might be the biggest challenge of all, but also the most rewarding. Jean Santos speaks from experience: She and her husband,…
Great Ideas for Small Local Stores
“The way people buy things has been changing over the last decade, but I feel like people haven’t changed. They still want to have that connection, they still want that personal experience,” says Dylan Butterbaugh, founder and owner of Manoa…
The Enterprising Story of Hawaii’s Blind Vendors
The first shop opened in 1938 and today dozens are owned and operated by entrepreneurs with grit, ingenuity and vision. If you’ve passed through a federal state or county office building or a state airport, you’ve probably seen Hawaii’s enterprising…
Sherbert Shop a Must Stop
Asato Family Store creative director and co-owner Neale Asato mixes ingredients for li hing sour belts. He began the family business in 2017 and now operates a snack shop at 1306 Pali Highway near the Pali Longs store. The shop…
Benefits of Employee Wellness Programs for Small Businesses [Sponsored]
With a small business, just one sick employee can have an immediate ripple effect on your operations. Other employees have to work harder to keep things on track – plus they’re at risk of getting sick too. With most people…
Koa Capital Feeds Growth in Hawaii Companies
How a Hawaii-based private investment firm helps local businesses flourish. Acacia Koa, Hawaii’s koa trees, is endemic to the islands and has been valued for its versatility and strength. A namesake private investment firm, Koa Capital Partners, likewise is focused…
Loans Support Food Sustainability
When Zac Hosler needed funding in 2014 to build out his aquaponics business in South Kona, he believed he would be rejected by a bank. “Financing for farmers is hard to come by,” says the majority owner of Ha Farms…