WE BUILD COMMUNITIES

America’s SBDCs help make the dream of small business ownership a reality for more Americans — creating jobs and opportunities that build communities throughout the nation.

See how the Hawai'i SBDC has served its communities.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

LYDGATE FARMS BEAN-TO-BAR AWARD-WINNING HAWAIIAN ARTISAN CHOCOLATE

5th generation Kauai farmer and founder Will Lydgate explains the magic of transforming Hawaiian grown cacao into world-class artisan chocolate.

UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

HOME-BASED HAWAII ENTREPRENEUR PIVOTS TO HARVEST TWO AWARDS FROM SAN FRANCISCO GOOD FOOD FOUNDATION

Monica Bogar transformed her backyard into a sustainable organic urban farm focused on aquaponics. She worked with the Maui office of the Hawaii SBDC, developing a long-time relationship of advisement and business development. Due to space and other constraints, Monica switched to producing locally-crafted artisanal kimchi and fermented foods. Napili FLO Farm won two awards from the San Francisco-based Good Food Foundation for its Pineapple-Ginger Sauerkraut and Gut Shots, a probiotic elixir.

ACCELERATORS + INCUBATORS

$6,751,310

$6,751,310

AWARDED TO HAWAII SBDC CLIENTS FROM THE HAWAII PPE SUPPLY CHAIN INNOVATION GRANT

EXPORT

LAHANA JEWELRY EXPORTS INTRICATE HANDCRAFTED HAWAIIAN-THEMED JEWELRY TO JAPAN

Thom Sirivattha designs and handcrafts intricate silver and gold Hawaiian-themed jewelry. In addition to assistance with inventory control, price points, packaging, and identification/alignment of target markets, he has benefitted from the ongoing support and guidance of the Hawaii SBDC Oahu Center in establishing his export business. He is working with major department stores, mall developers/owners, and a luxury retail distributor in Japan and has plans to expand to additional export markets.

MILLENNIALS + GEN-Z

PANDEMIC JOB LOSS GIVES RISE TO HEALTHY NON-GMO SEASONINGS BUSINESS

After the collapse of the Hawaii visitor industry, Joanna Villarreal created a line of seasonings that are preservative free, GMO free, gluten free, and are made with the best quality ingredients. "The Hawaii SBDC has been a great and reliable resource to ensure that my business is compliant with all state and county regulations. Robbie was there for me every step of the way cheering me on, ensuring that my business development continued to move forward, and provided many resources when needed."

TECH DEVELOPMENT

PRODUCE TREATMENT FACILITY FINANCED IN PART BY A USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY LOAN

Pa'aina Hawaii LLC worked for several years towards building a much-needed commercial produce irradiation facility to treat exports of Hawaiian papaya, sweet potatoes and basil for food borne pathogens and spoilage. The Hawaii SBDC Oahu office completed the feasibility study including a detailed analysis of the many existing documents, including construction plans, USDA and NRC licenses, and financial projections, as a critically important condition of the several million-dollar loan approval.

DISASTER RECOVERY

My Company received $60,000 from Hawaii Technology Development Corporation's PPE Supply Chain Innovation Grant which we never would have received without the help of Hawaii Small Business Development Center, Oahu Office.

CORA SPEARMAN, FOUNDER OF CORADORABLES

VETERANS

We consider Hawaii SBDC, Oahu Office an invaluable consultant. Joe provided guidance, feasibility analysis and advice for business plans, contractual agreements, SBA lending, growth/vision/strategy and importantly, encouragement. Thank you, Hawaii SBDC!

HOLLY AND ASHLEY HARDING, FOUNDERS, O'O HAWAII

WOMEN- OWNED

DOCTOR'S MOM CREATES BUSINESS FROM PURPOSE-DRIVEN MASK MAKING

Alexis Boilini learned that her doctor son and colleagues were required to sterilize/reuse masks in serving increased patient demand. She decided to help by producing masks since her travel-related business had stopped. The word got out, and demand soared. With the support of the Kauai SBDC and the Hawaii PPE Supply Chain Grant, Mask Up Kauai was born. Their goal is to help keep medical professionals and the local population safe and healthy from COVID-19, and for the creation of local jobs.

SPECIAL POPULATIONS

Thank you so much for thinking of me as a success story! It has been a long road & I am so grateful for all of your help. I would have been a mess without a business plan — you really showed me how important it is and helped me continually refine it.

KRISTINA HENRICKS, GOOD KARMA SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC, OWNER