As entrepreneurs try to build up small, authentically Hawaii businesses, they also face the realities of doing business in paradise: high shipping costs, onerous taxes, the challenge of finding and keeping good employees.
Mana Up, a Honolulu business accelerator, is working to help these fledgling ventures lift off. We talked to the members of Mana Up’s latest cohort — a swimsuit designer, fish jerky maker, textile designer and more — and found the diverse group of businesses share many of the same challenges.
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Sheldon Cho, Kaimana Jerky'It's a little challenging to find the right employees to produce jerky.'
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Kristen and John Reyno, Lola Pilar'People love Hawaii. So I feel that that being able to leverage that is really a good thing.'
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Roxelle Cho, FUSED Hawaii'A lot of times we're competing with things that are imported or made in other countries.'
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Melia Foster, Meli Wraps'Trying to get our brand out there was a challenge.'
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Russell Saito and Ryan Matsumoto, Hayn'Doing business in Hawaii has its unique problems and issues.'
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Maria Short, Short N Sweet and Dawn Kanealii-Kelinfelder, Liko Lehua'It's very hard to make at any money at owning a small business, especially in food service on the islands.'
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Paul Sullivan, Western Aloha'I would love to be able to make my products out here.'
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Amber Thibaut, Coco Moon'The costs of starting a business are really high.'
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Jalene Bell, Noho Home'Manufacturing is very small compared to other industries.'
“Hawaii’s Changing Economy” is supported by a grant from the Hawaii Community Foundation as part of its CHANGE Framework project.
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