8 Tips for Marketing Your Restaurant During COVID-19
These steps are essential for keeping your business top-of-mind during the pandemic.
Small Business
E-Commerce is the Present and Future for Hawai‘i Retailers
Learn how to e-sell from these local entrepreneurs and how your website can drive sales at your brick-and-mortar. First of two parts. “There’s no denying the trend toward digital commerce,” according to Evan Killips, project manager at City Mill. “It’s…
Small Business/Big Challenges: Mylen Yamamoto, Founder & Owner, Cropsticks
What has been Cropsticks’ latest pivot or innovation? Immediately, we have lowered our minimums for distributor and restaurant partners on any new orders to help us all get through this. In addition, we now offer consulting for restaurants looking to…
Small Business/Big Challenges: Jake Muise, Partner, Maui Nui Venison
What has been Maui Nui Venison’ latest pivot or innovation? Our latest pivot was the launch of our Holo ‘Ai program. Holo ‘Ai is a term for a traditional bundle of food with an alternate meaning of moving or speeding…
Small Business/Big Challenges: Jason Golden, Founder & Managing Partner, Beach Day Hawai‘i
What has been your company’s latest pivot or innovation? Beach Day Hawai‘i is an experiential service company that creates unique, personalized beach experiences for people traveling to Hawai‘i. During this event we’ve focused on the technology we would implement to…
Small Business/Big Challenges: Lana Penaroza, Owner, Tag Aloha Co.
What has been Tag Aloha’s latest pivot or innovation? Just before the crisis hit, we had started working on expanding our product line beyond the beach bags that we are known for. We recently launched a few new products, like…
Small Business/Big Challenges: Thomas Walker, Founder and Owner, ‘Ohana Nui
How are you coping with the COVID-19 crisis? Doing well! Luckily here in Hawai‘i, we have such incredible outdoor space to keep us sane, and mentally and physically healthy. Swimming and hiking are great ways to stay optimistic. I do both…
Small Business/Big Challenges: Maribel Avery, Founder & CEO, 808Nanny
What has been 808Nanny’s latest pivot or innovation? Our company’s latest innovation is creating a new platform called Nexus that will allow for job listing creation, continuing education courses and a marketplace to sell items. Additionally, we are building out…
What Local Small Businesses Need to Know about How to Collect and Use Data
The COVID-19 crisis has forced thousands of local companies to move more of their business online. That means now is a great time to take advantage of all the data being generated and grow your company with business intelligence and…
Small Business/Big Challenges: Dan O’Connell, Owner, The Wine Shop Kauai
What has been The Wine Shop Kauai’s latest pivot or innovation? In light of the social distancing guidelines, we now offer curbside pickup and home delivery to Kōloa, Po‘ipū and ‘Ōmao. For our wine club members, we offer a virtual…
Small Businesses/Big Challenges: Simply Sisters Boutique
Regina “Lola” Miller founded Simply Sisters Boutique in Hilo in 2011. How are you coping with the COVID-19 crisis? Simply Sisters’ storefront on Kilauea Avenue is closed to customers, but you can buy online, writes Regina “Lola” Miller in an…
Applications Open Today for $350 Billion in Small Business Loans
ProService Hawaii says local companies and nonprofits should apply soon. Applications for small business loans under the new federal CARES Act are being accepted starting today and ProService Hawaii says local companies should act quickly. “We’ve been working with all…
Small Businesses/Big Challenges: Dance Studio Goes Virtual Only
Aloha Dance Studio was founded by Tiffany Dick in 2002. The Līhuʻe studio has five independent, part-time adult instructors and five student teachers. Dick says thousands of keiki have danced with the studio over the last 18 years. How…
Small Business/Big Challenges: Violeta Arnobit, CEO, Ace Medical Inc.
How is Ace Medical coping with the COVID-19 crisis? We prepared our staff by providing early education about COVID-19 in February based on information from World Health Organization. We reviewed our policies on universal precautions and hand washing. We instructed…
Virtual Interview on COVID-19: Christine Lanning, President, Integrated Security Technologies Inc.
Lanning is Hawai‘i SBA’s Small Business Person of the Year How are you coping amid the COVID-19 crisis? We are following all government guidelines and providing communication, support and calm to our employees and customers. We are asking our staff…
Small Businesses/Big Challenges: Deep Kine Kitchen Cleaning
Deep Kine Kitchen Cleaning was founded by Dana and Wendy Daniels in 2018. They have six employees and run the commercial kitchen cleaning business from their home in Haiku, Maui. How are you coping with the COVID-19 crisis? Prior…
Virtual Interview on COVID-19: Jason Brand, Co-founder, KōHana Distillers
How are you coping amid the COVID-19 crisis? We ensured that our employees and visitors were safe by quickly instituting new processes. Then we focused on ensuring the financial health of our company going into a zero to no revenue…
Kona Coffee Farmers Favor 100% Labeling Rule
These farmers want the Kona name to be reserved only for 100% Kona coffee.
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…