From Cottage Industry to Commercial Enterprise Entrepreneurs

Meet The Entrepreneurs

From Cottage Industry to Commercial Enterprise

These local value-added entrepreneurs were selected by application for Hawaii Ag & Culinary Alliance’s® (HACA) From Cottage Industry to Commercial Enterprise in partnership with Leeward Community College (Leeward CC) and the Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center (WVAPDC). Their innovative food products showcase the best of Hawaii-grown, raised and caught ingredients. Explore their delicious offerings below!

Cohort 8 - 2026

Kinolau Foods

Kapono Aluli-Souza

Kinolau Foods is a Hawaii-based food company founded on the belief that what we eat is more than the sum of its parts—it carries memory, spirit, and relationship with the land. The name Kinolau comes from the Hawaiian concept of a deity’s many physical forms in nature, a philosophy that shapes everything we create. We offer food that is ethically aligned, culturally grounded, and deeply connected to Hawaiʻi. Our products draw exclusively from Hawaiian and Pacific Indigenous ingredients, inviting people to experience Hawaiʻi’s living food traditions. We’re proving Indigenous wisdom belongs in the commercial food conversation as a foundation, not a trend.

Pacifikool

Grace Chung

Turning away from synthetic fixes after a major medical crisis, I discovered the profound, life-giving power of Hawaiian ginger. That transformation sparked a mission: to create Hawaiʻi’s healthiest, freshest, and most beautiful ginger drinks. At Pacifikool, I serve every drink with authentic Hawaiian ginger syrup, exclusively grown in the islands using real ingredients, never artificial flavorings, colorings, or preservatives. We artfully blend our ginger syrup with fresh tropical fruits, herbs, and local spices to craft health-focused drinks. Every bottle and crafted drink reflects care, patience, and deep respect for Hawaii’s agricultural abundance, delivering an authentic Hawaiian experience in every sip.

Mabuhaylicious

Mabelle Denuna

Mabuhaylicious began as a hobby, long before it became a business. While working as a special educator, I became deeply aware of how food shaped my students’ ability to learn, focus, and feel safe. That experience changed how I saw everything. Food wasn’t just nourishment—it was access, stability, and care. At the same time, I was learning about sustainability through volunteer work at Kokua Learning Farm, and it became clear these interests were connected. I began creating mochi banana bread with local ingredients and inclusive food options. Mabuhaylicious honors where I come from while contributing to a more sustainable future.

Hapa Greens

Juliana Dias Franca

Hapa Greens started from my belief that healthy food should be flavorful, creative, and accessible. I am developing a line of globally inspired salad dressings made in Hawaiʻi using fresh ingredients and local produce. Each dressing is inspired by a different cuisine and reflects the places I have studied, worked, and learned throughout my career. My goal is to offer something unique, made with real ingredients and bold flavors, while helping people enjoy healthier choices. My vision is to grow Hapa Greens into a brand that supports Hawaiʻi’s food system, works closely with local farmers, and makes healthy eating accessible to all.

Fat Lip Juice Company

Matthew Hawes

Fat Lip Juice Company is a bar-focused citrus company providing fresh, bulk juice options for local bars, restaurants, and hotels. We use fresh, local, organic or pesticide-free fruit from small farms across Hawaiʻi, starting with lemon, lime, pineapple, and expanding to grapefruit, orange, watermelon, and cocktail blends. My partner and I have over 20 years of bar and restaurant experience and understand the time and cost of juicing and garnish prep. Fat Lip helps businesses improve efficiency, reduce prep time and produce waste, and meet growing demand for fresh, high-quality juices with a simple, scalable solution.

Those Bars

Ryan Josephs

I founded Those Bars after searching for healthier snack options that were high in fiber, low in processed sugar, and made with simple, recognizable ingredients. Inspired by the versatility of dates, oats, nuts, and fruit, I began creating my own snack bars in my kitchen. What started as a personal passion project has grown into a Hawaiʻi-based company producing date-based bars with no added sugar. My goal is to provide natural energy through wholesome ingredients and great taste, without artificial additives or complicated nutrition claims. Through farmers markets, retail partnerships, and community outreach, I strive to make healthier snacking more accessible.

The Agua Babe

Kristine Kane

This Oahu-based mobile farm-to-bar beverage company specializes in handcrafted cocktails, mocktails, coffee, and specialty drinks made with locally sourced ingredients. Inspired by the founder’s Native Hawaiian and Latina heritage, the company creates unique house-made syrups and beverages that celebrate the flavors and cultures of Hawaii. Serving weddings, corporate events, private gatherings, and community markets, the business is committed to supporting local farmers while delivering memorable beverage experiences. Through authentic hospitality and thoughtfully crafted drinks, they continue to bring people together and showcase the best of Hawaii’s local ingredients.

808 Greens n Things LLC

Janell Kuamoo

808 Greens n Things LLC is a Hawaii Island-based ohana hydroponic farm dedicated to increasing access to fresh, locally grown produce. Using controlled environment agriculture and hydroponic growing systems, the farm produces high-quality leafy greens and culturally relevant crops while promoting sustainability and efficiency. Founded to address Hawaii’s dependence on imported food, 808 Greens is committed to improving food security by providing affordable, healthy produce to local communities. As the company grows, it continues to expand its offerings and strengthen Hawaii’s local food system through innovation, accessibility, and community connection.

A-Team Treats

Ammon Levenson

At A-Team Treats, our mission is simple: to capture the essence of Hawaii in every bite. Founded in 2022 in Kaneohe, we create snacks that celebrate Hawaii’s vibrant flavors while offering a healthy, convenient way to snack. Inspired by locally grown tropical fruits, we developed handcrafted freeze-dried fruits that preserve the natural goodness, flavor, and nutrients of fresh ingredients. As our journey continued, we expanded our offerings to include homemade haupia and locally sourced ice creams that showcase Hawaii’s rich culinary traditions. We’re grateful to share this delicious adventure, bringing a taste of Hawaii wherever life takes you.

Hawaii Cupcake Factory

Tara Lumford

Hawaii Cupcake Factory is a locally owned bakery dedicated to creating high-quality baked goods inspired by the flavors, culture, and spirit of Hawaiʻi. We specialize in handcrafted cupcakes, private parties, special events, dessert tables, and specialty treats made with care and love. We believe great baked goods start with quality ingredients, creativity, and a commitment to excellence. Whether serving local families, businesses, retail partners, or visitors to the islands, we take pride in providing fresh, flavorful, and memorable products. Our mission is to share the taste of aloha while supporting local agriculture and strengthening our community.

Kalo Craves LLC

Tristan Malama

Kalo Craves LLC is a Hawaii-based food company founded by childhood friends Pomai and Tehani with a mission to celebrate the versatility of kalo through creative, locally inspired treats. Best known for its signature Kalo Tambo and Kulolo Poi Mochi Balls, the company blends traditional Hawaiian ingredients with innovative flavors that honor local culture. Since launching in 2024, Kalo Craves has expanded its lineup with a variety of handcrafted products while participating in community events across the islands. Through creativity, connection, and a passion for Hawaiian traditions, Kalo Craves continues to bring people together one bite at a time.

The Apiary in Poipu

Valerie Melle

The Apiary in Poipu is a Kauai-based specialty food company dedicated to showcasing the island’s unique flavors through handcrafted infused hot honey. Founded in 2026, the company creates distinctive blends featuring local ingredients such as lilikoi, guava, and cacao, combining the natural sweetness of honey with bold island-inspired flavors. Rooted in an appreciation for local agriculture and pollinator stewardship, The Apiary in Poipu celebrates Kauai’s rich agricultural heritage through innovative products. By highlighting Hawaii-grown ingredients and encouraging culinary creativity, the company offers a flavorful taste of Kauai in every jar.

Sweet Cane Cafe

Cherub Sliverstein

Sweet Cane Cafe’s humble beginnings started in 2008, juicing organically grown sugarcane from our family farm in Papaikou. From these simple beginnings, we’ve grown into a family-run restaurant, value-added production center, and gathering place for the community. We started with a mission of supporting local agriculture and serving fresh, local organic ingredients, sourcing from our family farm and local farmers across the island. We transform local ingredients into unique menu items and value-added products, now wholesaling to over 20 grocery stores, gift shops, and food hubs across the state. We’re now growing into grab-and-go products to expand our wholesale inventory.

Ohia Bakery

Pieter Villet

Ohia Bakery began in the late 1980s when my father set out to recreate the Molokai sweetbread he grew up with. After learning from kupuna, he built the business and expanded to Oahu, where our sweetbread was sold in local markets for 20 years. In 2013, after my father was diagnosed with throat cancer, I moved back to Hawaii to continue the bakery. I expanded our product line, rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2019, and later returned to wholesale baking. Despite the challenges of COVID, I remain committed to preserving our family’s legacy and sharing our sweetbread with the community.

Frequency Foods LLC

Stacey Weckstein

I founded Frequency Foods LLC from an unexpected journey of healing, reinvention, and reconnection to the land. After spending most of my life in Alaska and little time gardening, I discovered a passion for growing food and herbs that evolved into a mission centered on wellness, sustainability, and community. Through Frequency Foods, I cultivate teas, herbs, and farm products using mindful growing practices, believing that how food is grown directly impacts the health of both people and the planet. More than a farm, this work is about helping people reconnect with the source of their nourishment. My goal is to create products with purpose that support well-being while fostering a positive impact on our communities and environment.

Cohort 7 - 2026

HAWAII’S ONLY

Kale Afong

HONOLULU MOCHI

Yonglan Lin

KAHAWAI FARM

Colleen Pascaia

KAUAI FRESH FISH

Cadena Ragsdale

KENNY BOY ICE CREAM

Kenny Tssru

MALAMA BAR

Benjamin Foster

MYNA TRADING CO.

Emily Terukina

NA KALAI WAA

Keala Kahuanui

NOURISH YOUR SOUL

Vineeta Santoshi

REBRAN

Tatsuyoshi Omura

ROMU

Kimberly Haruki

SAVA PROVISIONS

Lily Nguyen

SHAKA BUTTER

Berklee Welsh

SHAKA MEX

Nicole Henderson

SOL FOOD KITCHEN

Kira Swoope

Featured Product:
Dehydrated Kimchi Powder

Cohort 6 - 2025

CHEF DAVID PAUL

David Paul Johnson

Featured Product:
Gourmet Salad Dressings

DA TOMATO GUY

Danny Rudometkin

GINNIBERRIES, INC

Michelle Nakaya

HEALTHY BABY HAWAII

Alyson Akina

KEN’S KORNER

Kendra Wong

KUAWEHI FARM

Akil Kofi

LILIKOI VINEYARDS, LLC

Maureen Serverson

LOVEJOY CONFECTIONS

Jonny Kimbro

MALA-BE

Jonathan Cohen

MARI’S GARDENS

Tanya Candido

Featured Product:
Creamy Olena Powder Dressing

MME SAIGON

Kevin Nguyen

Featured Product:
Spicy-Savory Chili Sauce, Lemongrass Marinade

PURE AMBROSIA

Leslie Anne Nilo

Featured Product:
Adaptogenic Dragon Fruit Energy Balls

TENDIES

Stephen Nishihara

THIS LIL PIGGY

Toma Turner

Featured Product:
Pipi Kaula (Hawaiian-Style Beef Jerky), Fried He’e Chips

WAIU ‘ALA

Micheal Jensen

Cohort 5 - 2025

BAKE YOU A SMILE

Ashley Uahinui

CHEF FRIEND HAWAII / NAMI KAZE

Jason Peel

DAGUZAN CHARCUTERIE

Pierre Daguzan

Featured Product:
Waianae Pork Pâté and Rillettes, Molokai Venison Pâté and Rillettes, North Shore Chicken Liver Mousse

THE DOGGY KITCHEN

Karli Kurihara

Featured Product:
Hawaii Fresh Dog Food & Treats

GROK COFFEE

Shawn Steiman

HAPA HAWAIIAN SALTS

Lisa Strand

Featured Product:
Hawaiian Salt Seasonings

HULI HULI CHICKEN

Peter Castillo

Featured Product:
Waikiki Beach BBQ Seasoning

KII KII FARM PROVISIONS

Stephanie Shipton

Featured Product:
Frozen Mango Smoothie Packs

MADRES CHURROS

Janee Gutierrez

MANA-SU

Randy Kuba

NUI KEALOHA

Kealoha Domingo

ONOMEA FARM HUB

Kalisi Mausio

Featured Product:
Momona Ulu-Based Seasonings

PINEAPPLE ROAD BEVERAGE CO.

Caleigh Dillon

PURE HAWAII TEA

Negus Manna

UCOOK HAWAII

Sheryl Kahue

Featured Product:
Kau Orange Sauce, Lemongrass Sauce & Marinade

Cohort 4 - 2024

ALINA FARMS 808

Kanani Plunkett

Featured Product:
Hawaiian Farm Fresh Spirulina

ALOHAMADE BITES

Marshall Dumadag

Featured Product:
Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Pies, Tarts and Bites

BOUGIE DUMPLINGS

Justine Ma

Featured Product:
Banana Bread Dumplings

DONTBAJRK BEEF JERKY

Shaina Wright

Featured Product:
I’ll Shoyu Garlic, Holy Jalapeño, Pineapple Pepper

FARMING ALOHA

Christine Yuu-Suan

HOMETOWN BBQ

Charles Etsinger

Featured Product:
BBQ Sauces, Hot Sauces, Spice Blends

HONOBONO

Fred Ison

ISLAND AHI CANNERY

Matthew Carnes

Featured Product:
Fresh Canned Tuna and Ono

KALO & CREAM

Bethany Letoto

Featured Product:
Soda Syrups – Kulolo, Li Hing, Pickled Mango, Ume Shiso & more

MAKAHA MANGOES

Candy Suiso

Featured Product:
Mango Fruit Leather, Mango Cookies & more

MALA MAMA FARM

Natasha Gourlay

Featured Product:
Mamaki Tea, Healing Salves & more

Shop In-Store:
Aina Farm Stand, Homegrown Pearlridge

MAUI COCKTAIL KITS

Katy Tsark

Featured Product:
Craft Cocktail Infusion Kits

NAIKE

Jamesie Kahinu

Featured Product:
Hawaiian Chili Pepper Shoyu Sauce

Shop In-Store:
Kuilima Farm, Pop-Up Makeke, Pukalani Superette, Molokai Minimart, Misaki’s Grocery & more

PETITE SWEETS

Francesca Lee

Featured Product:
Dessert Bars – Lilikoi Shortbread, Guava Shortbread, Okinawan Sweet Potato Haupia Cheesecake

PUUIKI PICKLED VEGETABLES

Ann Casson

Featured Product:
Pickled Vegetables from Kalili Farms

Cohort 3 - 2024

ALOHA AINA FARMS HALEIWA

John Rust

Featured Product:
Smoked Habanero Hot Sauce

ALOHA RAW

Aloha Bugakova

Featured Product:
Pono Bread, Kraut & More

BIG ISLAND BITTERS

Summer Akuna

FOR J’S HAWAII

Janis Tanga

Featured Product:
Hawaiian Chili Oil Dressing & Hot Hawaiian Chili Oil

Shop In-Store:
ChefZone, Dean & Deluca, Farm Link Hawaii & more

HUMBLE FOOD DESIGN

Robert Kekoa

Featured Product:
Mr. Guava Lava Chili Pepper Water, Hot Shot Lilikoi Chili Pepper Water

Shop In-Store:
Aoki Shave Ice, Rajah Dat Snack Shop, Tasty Jerky Hawaii

ISLAND SAUSAGE

Terrence Enomoto

Featured Product:
Salami (Spanish Chorizo, Sea Salt Mac Nut, Finocchiona, Cacciatore)

Shop In-Store:
Island Sausage

KUPUNA KALO

Weston Yap

MAUNA KEA TRADING COMPANY

Gloria Ilagan

PALAMAN PURVEYORS

Randy Cortez

Featured Product:
Pandan Butter, Ube Halaya

OAHU GROWN MAMAKI

Jon Watase

POP CULTURE ARTISAN POPS

Justin Udom

Featured Product:
Coffee Cacao Nib Swirl, Matcha Honey Cream, Cookie Monster, Hibiscus Passion Punch, Strawberry Guava Creamsicle

Shop In-Store:
Hapa Market, Kalapawai Market, KualoaGrown Market, Navy Exchange, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum & more

OKONOKAI

Jina Wye

Featured Product:
Gluten-Free Seaweed Crackers, Hawaii-Grown Furikake

Shop In-Store: Bizia Coffee & Surf, House of Mana Up

SOULSUM

Raymond Trinh

Featured Product:
Tepache – Pineapple Powered Probiotic Soda

SUGARLESS BITES & DELITES

Brittany Egnew

Featured Product:
Guava Cheesecake with Guava Curd

3 SPOONFULS OF SUGAR

Jamie Cabuag

Featured Product:
Mango Raspberry Butter, Mango Lilikoi Butter (no added sugar), Strawberry Guava Butter, Lilikoi Butter

Cohort 2 - 2023

ANY KINE SNAX

Wendy Iwasaki

Featured Product:
Freeze Dried SNAX (Lilikoi and Lychee)

Shop In-Store:
ABC Stores, Foodland Farms, Island Country Markets, Noeau Designers, Sun Chong Grocery & more

BOXED UP COOKIES

Leea Kalilimoku

THE CORNER ROLLS

Philip Nguyen

Featured Product:
Handcrafted Spring Rolls

HAWAIIAN KRUNCH

Tootsie Davis

Featured Product:
Kalo Krunch, Uala Krunch, Ulu Krunch

Shop In-Store:
ChefZone, Farm Link Hawaii, Fairmont Kea Lani, Hawaiian Moons Natural Foods, Okoa Farms

HAWAIIAN SODA CO

Caesar Ho

Featured Product:
Sparkling Passion Orange Guava, Sparkling Lilikoi Lychee, Sparkling Pineapple Citrus

Shop In-Store:
7-Eleven Hawaii, ChefZone, Foodland, Don Quijote, Down To Earth, Times Supermarkets & more

HAWAII’S WÜRST

Micah Richards

Featured Product:
USDA Sausage Product with Hawaii-raised Livestock, Bone Broth, Mauka Meats

Shop In-Store:
ChefZone

MOCHI MOMMA HI

Stacey Robinol

MORNING GLASS COFFEE

Mahina Akimoto Reppun

MY SWEET WORLD 808

Trisha Kawakami

THE ORIGINAL ISLAND CEVICHE

Xiomara Guevara

Featured Product:
Salvadoran Style Ceviche

THE PAU HANA CO.

Alyssa Yafuso

SAKI’S ALOHAS LAB

Saki Kawanabe

Featured Product:
Fermented Fruit Syrups

TWISTED LUMPIA

Rhandi Ardona

Featured Product:
Pastele Lumpia, Uala Lumpia, Kulolo Lumpia

Shop In-Store:
ChefZone, The Friendly Market, Waianae Store

ULU & KALO BAKERY

Maile Kamisugi

Featured Product:
Sesame Garlic Ulu Crackers

Shop In-Store:
Bean About Town, Farm Link Hawaii, The Locavore Store, Nalu Health Bar, Poai by Pono Potions

Cohort 1 - 2023

BARRIO CAFE

Miriam Olivas

CHIBI CONFECTIONERY

Garrett Shiroma

Featured Product:
Lilikoi, Guava or POG Shortbread Cookies

THE DISCO FARMER

Jason Weintraub

Featured Product:
Hand-picked Tea Blends with Local Fruits

HALEIWA SALT CO

Scott Potter

Featured Product:
Hand-harvested Sea Salt

Shop In-Store:
The Local General Store, Ko Hana Distillers, Kuilima Farm Stand, Uncle Paul’s Corner Store & more

HAWAIIAN VINEGAR & SPICE CO

Poni Askew

Featured Product: Drinking Shrubs & Vinegars

Shop In-Store: Hawaiian Vinegar & Spice Co, Island Boy Shop, The Local General Store, The Vinegary & more

THE HOIO GUY

Brandon Chung

ISLAND RAYNE GOURMET

Becky Shuck

Featured Product:
Tropical Fruit Hot Sauces

LUAU BOMBS

Michael Yamauchi-Yamate

MAHINA MEA

Anuhea Sills

Featured Product:
Original Kimchi Cucumber Chips

MILO’S PASTELE STOP

Martha Lanoza

THE MOCHI BAR

Christina Peterson

MOSSY MOKES

Misty Sommo

Featured Product:
Premium Sea Moss Gels and Beverages

Shop In-Store:
Down To Earth, Good Health Food Store, Lanikai Juice, The Source

PATA PATA HAWAII

Queena Tahi

Featured Product:
Honey Lilikoi Protein Butter

POCKET BARS

Kaena Galdeira

Featured Product:
Mini Macadamia Snack Bars

SAKATA SWEETS

Mahealani Badua