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.

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.

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.

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.