Success Stories

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today presented the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) with the President’s “E” Award for Export Service at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The “E” Awards are the highest recognition any U.S. entity may receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. ...
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By: Chelsea Cooper and Dean Pescador, Hogan Entrepreneurial Program As we arrived an hour early at the Mulvadi coffee factory, we were greeted by Mulvadi’s friendly staff.  Steven Mulgrew, owner of the company and President was more than happy to meet up with us.  His lively spirit flowed through him while he graciously offered us ...
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Hawaii Enterprise Zones Success Story So Ono Food Products, LLC By: Chelsea Cooper and Dean Pescador, Hogan Entrepreneurial Program You’re at the supermarket staring at the delicious-looking pineapples, only to come across one of the greatest grocery shopping dilemmas: Do I pick the goldest looking one? Should I thump them to make sure it sounds ...
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Robert Stanga, President of Hamakua Heritage Farm in Laupahoehoe, on the island of Hawaii, produces gourmet mushrooms known as Hamakua Mushrooms. The company enrolled in the Hawaii Enterprise Zones Partnership program which is a state government program that offers tax and other incentives to eligible businesses located in designated Enterprise Zones in the state. “The ...
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SBA awards $485,719 to DBEDT to assist Hawaii small businesses to grow export sales and enter new international markets.

DBEDT and the State House of Representatives hosted 200 CEOs from China, attending APEC, to an energy forum that culminated with the signing of a memorandum of understanding

Ken Hirata holding a bottle of Sochu

Shochu Made in Hawaii

Posted on May 25, 2012 in Success Stories

Entrepreneur Plans Shochu Distillery through DBEDT Micro Loan Program   KAMPAI! That’s the word you’ll be hearing when you visit 45-year old entrepreneur Ken Hirata on his 10-acre farm that is now “open for business” and features his now certified and operational shochu-producing distillery. Ken, an entrepreneur from Japan, whose parents used to live in ...
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