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More than 250 attendees gathered at the Ala Moana Hotel for the first-ever “Made in Hawai‘i Presents: Your Future in E-Commerce” conference by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), on February 21. During various sessions and panels, industry leaders from Amazon and Shopify shared tips and insights on how Hawai‘i manufacturers and retailers can succeed in the e-commerce world.

More than 250 attendees gathered at the Ala Moana Hotel for the first-ever “Made in Hawai‘i Presents: Your Future in E-Commerce” conference by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), on February 21. During various sessions and panels, industry leaders from Amazon and Shopify shared tips and insights on how Hawai‘i manufacturers and retailers can succeed in the e-commerce world.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), in collaboration with industry leaders Amazon and Shopify, announced today that the first-ever “Made in Hawai‘i Presents: Your Future in E-Commerce” conference will be held at the Ala Moana Hotel on Wednesday, February 21.

Kubota Corporation established Kubota Rice Industry (Hawaii) Inc., a Japanese-rice importing, milling and sales company, on Oahu in Hawaii, the United States. By locally milling brown rice imported from Japan and providing it for customers, Kubota Hawaii will convey the appeal of fresh and tasty Japanese rice and contribute to increasing the export of Japanese rice.

As the holiday season approaches, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) urges Hawaiʻi residents and visitors alike to celebrate the spirit of giving by supporting local businesses. Governor Josh Green, M.D. and DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka are championing the cause, emphasizing the importance of strengthening Hawaiʻi’s communities and economy by choosing locally made products for holiday gift-giving.

Small businesses are critical to the US economy. But data on small businesses is limited—especially data on how and why small businesses seek financing. Through the annual Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS), the Federal Reserve Banks capture one-of-a-kind data on small businesses. The Fed is apolitical, independent, and decentralized, which puts it in a unique position to collect, analyze, and distribute this data.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) and Mana Up today announced the launch of a Hawai‘i-themed pop-up retail shop featuring Hawai‘i products at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Named the Aloha Market powered by Mana Up, the pop-up shop is set to open its doors on November 15, bringing a slice of Hawai‘i's vibrant culture, natural beauty, and tropical flair to the gateway to Tokyo. 

At the Hawaiian Airlines 10th Annual Made in Maui County Festival, every small business owner has a unique story. For married Troy and Bea Morrison of TBM Creations, it involves the COVID-19 pandemic and the Lahaina fire. In 2020, when Bea Morrison lost her job at the front desk of the Hyatt due to the tourism shutdown, the couple began a side hustle creating custom art pieces — trinket dishes, cutting boards, skateboards, surfboards and ornaments — using Troy’s woodworking skills and Bea’s designs with epoxy resin and pigment in the colors of the beach and sea.

Maui small businesses hit by this summer’s wildfires are getting financial support to participate in this year’s Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival on November 3 and 4, 2023 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s (DBEDT) Community-Based Economic Development (CBED) program is providing $65,000 in grants to cover booth fees for vendors. The Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival is an annual event presented by the Maui Chamber of Commerce to showcase products from the islands of Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lāna‘i.

The State of Hawai‘i Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) has been awarded a $3.2 million dollar grant from the Department of Defense, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation. Through the grant funding, DBEDT will establish a Military and Community Affairs Office which will focus on effective collaboration and transparency between the State of Hawai‘i, county governments, the community and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

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