Readers pick The Local General Store for People’s Choice Award, Hawaii Entrepreneurs Award

Harley Chow and Jason Chow, the husband-and-wife team behind The Local General Store, were recently honored with the People’s Choice Award through the Hawai‘i Venture Capital Association awards in partnership with Hawaii Business Magazine.

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 croissants. Jason’s journey moved from biology and marine conservation to kitchens and, eventually, whole-animal butchery, where he developed a deep respect for local sourcing and utilization.

Together, they bring a thoughtful, hands-on approach to everything they create, blending technique, sustainability and a strong sense of place.

In the following Q&A with Hawaii Business Magazine, Harley shares more about the evolution of their business and the philosophy that continues to shape The Local General Store.

How did you folks come up with the idea of your company?

Growing up in Hawaiʻi, it was important for us to come back home and build something meaningful here.  Jason moved to Berkeley, California to learn whole animal butchery after finding it difficult to find local meat in Hawai’i grocery stores. I was living in San Francisco after studying at the University of San Francisco. I fell in love with baking and have worked in various bakeries around the city.  We realized we shared the same values and the same dream of returning home to create something that truly blended our talents.

When we came back to Oʻahu in 2019, we started small — pop-ups and farmers markets — slowly building the brand and getting to know our community. That eventually led us to opening our brick-and-mortar store in Kaimukī , where we could bring local meat and baked goods together under one roof. At its heart, The Local General Store is about three things: our love of craft, our love for Hawaiʻi, and our love for each other. We wanted to create a place that felt personal, supported local farmers, and gave people a little taste of what makes this place so special to us. 

Are you folks glad you work together as a couple?

It definitely isn’t easy and we wouldn’t highly recommend it –  it has more challenges than we initially thought and I still think to this day we are learning how to work alongside each other. But at the same time we still tell each other how lucky we are to be doing this together.

What is your hope and vision for The Local General Store in five-10 years?

This is a tough question for many reasons. It’s  hard to look to the future when so much of the current day is uncertain – with the devastation that Hawaiʻi’s farmers and people are currently facing, the economy, and the workforce.  The people who grow and raise our food are the very backbone of what we do, and when they hurt, we feel it deeply. It’s hard to dream big during these times. So much of our energy right now goes into showing up for them — being a consistent, reliable partner and ensuring that what they produce still has a home on our shelves and in our display cases.

That said, when we allow ourselves to look ahead, I do feel hopeful. I hope that in five to ten years we’ve been able to grow our team — bringing on people who are just as passionate about this place and this food as we are. I hope we’ve built even deeper relationships with local farmers, becoming a place that truly champions Hawaiʻi agriculture in a meaningful and lasting way. And sometimes we even  let ourselves think about a second location. But more than anything, we hope The Local General Store continues to be a place where people feel connected — to their food, to the land, and to the community that makes Hawaiʻi  worth fighting for.

What motivates you folks?

Seeing our customers walk through the door, watching them become regulars, and witnessing their keiki grow up alongside this little store — that fills us up in a way that’s hard to put into words. We can’t stress it enough but we’re constantly motivated and inspired by the farmers we work with. These are people who dedicate their lives to growing and raising food in Hawaiʻi – they should be constantly celebrated! The idea of building something lasting, something that future generations can look back on and feel proud of – is also another huge motivator. Jason and I motivate each other too. When times are tough and we think we can’t push through – one of us is usually there to anchor and support.

What does it mean to win this award?

Winning the People’s Choice Award was such a humbling moment. I remember looking over at Jason when they announced our name and saying, “they actually like us!” — and by “they,” I meant everyone who took the time to vote for us through our weekly newsletter, our Instagram posts, and of course our family and friends – though that one feels a little obligatory. But in all seriousness, this award means so much more than recognition. It feels like a true testament to the community we’ve built around something we genuinely love. I’d like to think it’s because people believe in what we’re doing and want to see us succeed — not just as a business, but as a part of this place.  We’re very lucky that this community continues to grow, and winning this just reminds us of why we show up every single day.