LIHU‘E — The county Office of Economic Development is seeking council approval at Wednesday’s meeting to receive and expend $50,000 from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority to create a store for Kaua‘i Made products in Lihu‘e.
If approved, the project would begin next month, said OED Director Nalani Brun.
“The COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t all terrible,” Brun said.
“We saw the growth of entrepreneurship. Kaua‘i Made is one of the programs out there that supports that growth, and the Office of Economic Development is putting more time and effort now into building out that program as much as possible,” she said.
”We are grateful to the Rice Street Business Association and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority for joining us on the Kaua‘i Made support bandwagon.”
Brun said RSBA is involved in the process, and she believes the original targeted space is near the old Escape Room on Rice Street near its ‘Umi Street intersection.
“In order for us to have a stronger local economy, we need to continue to focus our support towards our local entrepreneurs who help diversify our local economy
through local manufacturing of products and services,” said Dr. Addison Bulosan, president of RSBA.
“These little steps allow us to continue to empower our local community. Strengthening our Kaua‘i Made producers allows local people to continue to reinvest in their small
businesses through these
difficult times,” he said.
Brun said there are many retailers on the island selling Kaua‘i Made products. “We can’t be more grateful for their support.”
“The nonprofit (RSBA) recognized a need that there aren’t a lot of Kaua‘i Made retailers near the airport, and feel this is a niche area that can help our Kaua‘i entrepreneurs,” said Brun. “This project also competed for one of our Innovation Grants earlier this year, and just missed the cut.”
Brun said the county recognizes the project fits a recommendation made by the HTA Kaua‘i Destination Management Action Plan process, and thus brought the application forward to see if they could fund it with HTA DMAP funds that were set aside for Kaua‘i.
“We are very happy that HTA agreed that the
project met a recognized need,” Brun said. “This project intends to incorporate 3D online shopping, affiliate membership, marketing, educational workshops for vendors and store events.”
Salty Wahine Gourmet Hawaiian Sea Salt Manager Sean Cristobal said his mom Laura Cristobal Andersland started the company in June of 2008.
“We joined Kaua‘i Made like 2010 or 2011,” Cristobal said. “That was about the time we opened our storefront in Hanapepe. Before that, we were just selling it at the farmers’ market.”
The Kaua‘i Made label can be found on products made on Kaua‘i, which can make a difference in sales, said Cristobal.
“I feel like the tourists — or actually any customer — they get comfort or like they know that it’s quality ingredients when they see that,” Cristobal said.
For Kaua‘i business owners interested in joining the Kaua‘i Made program, Brun said to go to kauaimade.net.
“You can find the application form to fill out and send in,” Brun said. “There is a process to be accepted into the program, and it costs only $50 a year. A vendor makes an appointment and meets with the Kaua‘i Made coordinator with their products and explains the process a vendor uses to create the product.”
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Stephanie Shinno, education and business reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
