A Clown’s Life
NAME: Steve Hawkes JOB: Performer and owner, Stevo the Clown START: “When I was 8, I got this pogo stick and a unicycle under the Christmas tree, so I mastered both of them early on,” Hawkes recalls. “I was in…
Small Business
Do It for the Gram
Instagram has emerged as a vital (and potentially lucrative) marketing channel that not only drives customer acquisition, engagement and sales, but also provides small businesses with a free innovation lab and instant feedback for designing their brands and iterating new…
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…
My Job: Car Trouble - Who You Going to Call?
Name: Lincoln Smith Age: 34 Job: Tow Truck Operator and Owner, Areo Towing & Recovery The Kaimuki High School graduate got the idea to start his own towing company in 2012 when he was working as a security guard at…
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…
My Job: Protecting Animals
Name: Tom Chmielowicz Age: 36 Job: Humane investigator, Hawaiian Humane Society Start: The New Jersey native received a bachelor’s degree in environmental economics from Rutgers University in 2006. He moved to Honolulu in 2014 to be closer to his fiancee’s family. “I had…
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…
