Kamehameha Schools and investment firm Ulupono Initiative have teamed up to host the annual Mahiai Match-Up program, a business plan competition for food-focused entrepreneurs. This year, the program is focused on businesses that utilize Native Hawaiian crops.
The competition had 46 applicants, according to representatives of KS. From that group, nine finalists were selected for three awards. The three winners of the competition will receive cash prizes of $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000 and participate in a three-month business mentorship program, according to the program's website.
"We partner with Kamehameha Schools on the Mahiai Match-Up agricultural business plan competition because it aligns with our mission and our desire to see local food production scale up in Hawaii to better feed our residents and help us be a bit less dependent on imported food," Murray Clay, president of the Ulupono Initiative, said in an email to Pacific Business News. "KS has significant amounts of ag land with many promising food-focused entrepreneurs as tenants.”
Established in 2013, the Mahiai Match-Up program has helped more than 20 businesses get started with prizes that include start-up capital, land lease agreements and other resources, as previously reported by Pacific Business News.
The nine Mahiai Match-Up finalists are:
The Local General Store - Baker-and-butcher duo Harley and Jason Chow, owners of The Local General Store, expanded their business from markets and pop-up shops to its first brick-and-mortar store in Kaimuki, which opened May 27. Harley makes pastries with locally sourced ingredients, while Jason runs a butcher shop, processing animals raised in Hawaii. The 1,200-square-feet store is “part bakery, part whole-animal butcher shop and all love,” according to its business profile on Yelp. Learn more here.
Liquid Life Hawaii - Owned by Ola and Puna Tripp, Liquid Life Hawaii sells nutrient-rich, cold-pressed juices with locally grown ingredients, including blue spirulina, lilikoi and ginger, according to its website. The business is part of Mana Up's Cohort 8. Learn more here.
Ulu Mana - Ulu Mana opened its first brick-and-mortar chip factory store in Kalihi on June 1. The 750-square-foot location serves fresh ulu chips made on the spot. Ulu Mana chips are currently sold by Farm Link, Oahu Fresh, Down to Earth, Foodland, Tamura’s Fine Wines & Liquors and the Dole Plantation, among other locations. Learn more here.
Pono Pies / Maui Breadfruit Company: John Cadman of Pono Pies and Maui Breadfruit Company creates healthy, raw vegan desserts. The pies include Maui-grown breadfruit, locally grown macadamia nuts and honey, plus almond milk. The desserts include no sugar, gluten, eggs, butter or dairy, according to the company's website. Cadman's pies are sold at Whole Foods, Down to Earth, Duke's Waikiki, Kani KaPila Grille and Farm Link Hawaii. Learn more here.
Polipoli Farms - Lehia Apana, co-founder of the Maui-based Polipoli Farms is partnering with Dove Chocolate to raise funds for a $480,000 food processing hub. Her three-acre farm in Waiehu grows native and Polynesian plants including ulu, mamaki, bananas, and sugarcane. She and her husband, Brad Bayless, are the founders of the farm. Learn more here.
Piko Provisions -The business creates baby food with "Hawaii-grown ingredients and superfoods," according to the company's website. The baby foods include ingredients such as avocado, kale, banana, Okinawan sweet potato, breadfruit and taro. Currently, the Piko Provisions is sold by Sustainable Molokai, Longs Drugs, 7-Eleven and Foodland. The company appeared on PBN's list of Startups to Watch earlier this year, and its founder, Ethan West, was among last year's 40 Under 40 honorees.
Canoe Plant Collective - This hui of farmers, makers and millers uses starches grown in Hawaii for their products, according to the group's website. Members of the hui include Hawaii Ulu Cooperative, Hawaii Farmer's Union, Voyaging Foods, Ulu and Kalo Bakery and Mamalani. Learn more here.
Hooulu Punaluu - The owner of Hooulu Punaluu, Ladd Kaha'i Ah Choy, runs a 4.5-acre farm that produces ulu, cacao, avocado, papaya and bananas on Oahu, according to information provided by KS. He currently sells about 50-200 pounds of kalo each week to Waiahole Poi Factory, Kokua Kalihi Valley and members of the community, according to KS. Learn more here.
Kohala Food Hub - This hub aggregates locally produced food from multiple farmers and delivers it to customers. The food hub is launching a trailer with funding from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture in 2024 to bring locally grown food to low-income residents and food desert areas, according to information provided by representatives of KS. Learn more here.
The winners of the Mahiai Match-up will be announced at the Aha Aina Pauahi event at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 2, at Pearl Country Club. For more information, go to: pauahi.org/aha-aina-pauahi.
