Market Entry and Expansion Activities (MEEA)
Market Entry and Expansion Activities (MEEA), Formerly Hawaiʻi Pavilions (HiSTEP-HP), is a program that creates opportunities for Hawaiʻi companies to sell in overseas markets, either through digital platforms or via in-person trade shows.
Makuake is Japan’s leading pre-sales e-commerce platform that enables Hawaiʻi companies to promote new products to Japanese consumers.
- Ongoing: Makuake, Japan (CONSUMER)
- Interested companies should first register for HiSTEP and review the information here. Please email lyle.h.fujikawa@hawaii.gov and scott.t.tome@hawaii.gov.
MEEA trade shows include but are not limited to:
| Dates | Event | Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 21-23, 2024 | Fancy Food Show (TRADE) – Application Closed | Las Vegas, NV, USA | Contact Yukashi Smith, Hawaiʻi Dept. of Agriculture; Yukashi.M.Smith@hawaii.gov |
| February 19-23, 2024 | GULFOOD (TRADE) – Application Closed | Dubai, UAE | Contact Brendan Akamu, Hawaiʻi Dept. of Agriculture; Brendan.R.Akamu@hawaii.gov |
| March 5-8, 2024 | FOODEX Japan (TRADE) | Tokyo, Japan | Contact Marlene Hiraoka at marlene.m.hiraoka@hawaii.gov for details on participating. |
| March 13-15, 2024 | Natural Products Expo West (TRADE) | Anaheim, California | Contact Timothy Tiu at timothy.t.tiu@hawaii.gov for details on participating. |
| July 10-15, 2024 | Hankyu Hawaiʻi Fair (CONSUMER) | Osaka, Japan | Please fill out this form, and you will be contacted by email for next steps. |
| September 2-5, 2024 | Fine Food Australia (TRADE) | Melbourne, Australia | Contact Brendan Akamu, Hawaiʻi Dept. of Agriculture; Brendan.R.Akamu@hawaii.gov |
| September 4-6, 2024 | Tokyo International Gift Show (TIGS) (TRADE) | Tokyo, Japan | Contact Marlene Hiraoka at marlene.m.hiraoka@hawaii.gov for details on participating. |
Funded in part through a Grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration
