With an ultimate goal of strengthening the lāhui, the Mālama Design Studio is mentoring a second cohort of Native Hawaiian-owned businesses
In Hawaiʻi, small businesses are the lifeblood of the community.
Mālama Design Studio (MDS), a program offered by the Purple Maiʻa Foundation, is at the forefront of supporting these businesses. By providing mentorship in visual branding, web development, and marketing strategies, MDS empowers Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs to share their stories authentically while remaining true to their cultural values.
With the support of an economic grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, MDS is now helping a second cohort of 10 Kānaka Maoli owned companies thrive in a way that not only benefits their individual success, but also strengthens Hawaiʻi’s economy and cultural legacy. The goal is to develop a pae ʻaina wide coalition of Kānaka businesses focused on achieving economic self-sufficiency.
The cohort is now eight months into its nine-month training program which will wrap up in December.
“We’re in the final phase of completing digital projects in support of growing each business in the cohort. These range from website redevelopment, to logos, updated packaging and internal digital workflow enhancements,” said Keoni DeFranco, managing director of Mālama Studios.
“This cohort has been incredibly inspiring! We’re supporting Native Hawaiian founders on five Hawaiian islands, in a range of diverse industries that include traditional Hawaiian practices such as lei-making, kalo farming, lomilomi, mākeke (markets) and ʻai pono. We’ve been impressed with the growth our founders have exhibited and the pilina built between the cohort. We’re all aligned in a shared mission to build more economic sovereignty for Hawaiʻi to ensure our people are not just surviving but thriving in our homeland.”
“MDS not only inspired me to dream bigger but also equipped me with essential tools to re-imagine what a kuleana-driven business can truly be.”
– Ikaika Wright
Ikaika Wright is the owner of Kino Konnections, a company that offers lessons in practical lomi for personal use. Wright recently held his first Lomi ʻOhana community workshop class.
“In many ways, this class was made possible through my participation in the MDS Cohort, which came at a pivotal moment in my business journey,” Wright said. “Navigating entrepreneurship has often been a daunting task. At times I’ve struggled with finding a balance between Western frameworks of business and understandings of mauli ola, aloha ʻāina, and lāhui. A constant inner dialogue I have is, ʻwhat does it look like to support our people and ʻāina while also taking care of myself, my own ʻohana, and earning a livelihood through a living cultural practice?’
“MDS not only inspired me to dream bigger but also equipped me with essential tools to re-imagine what a kuleana-driven business can truly be.”
As MDS continues to grow, its commitment to fostering a sustainable, community-driven economy remains strong. These businesses, each with their own unique contribution to Hawaiʻi’s community and economy, reflect the diversity and strength of Native Hawaiian entrepreneurship. By supporting these local entrepreneurs, MDS is helping build a future that honors Hawaiʻi’s past while shaping a thriving, culturally aligned economic landscape.
“We believe it is critical to continue building support networks for Native Hawaiian founders who navigate complex challenges shaped by the unique, material conditions of Hawaiʻi. Native Hawaiians consistently face barriers in accessing startup capital and business loans, despite often having comparable qualifications. These systemic inequities not only limit opportunities for economic growth but also hinder the potential for long-term community resilience,” DeFranco said.
“By investing in the skills, knowledge, and capacity of our people, we aim to empower Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs to overcome these obstacles and drive sustainable, values-aligned business ventures that honor our ʻŌiwi culture while fostering economic self-sufficiency. We hope you will keep these local Native Hawaiian companies in mind when you are making your holiday purchases.”
To learn more about Mālama Design Studio and the businesses they support, visit purplemaia.org or follow them on social media. Together, they are helping Hawaiʻi’s small businesses flourish while uplifting the lāhui.
Members of the 2023 Mālama Design Studio Cohort 1
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- Hui Mālama i ke Ala ʻŪlili, Hāmākua, Hawaiʻi Island
- ʻOhana Productions, Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island
- Kanaka to Kanaka, Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island
- Polipoli Farms, Waiehu, Maui
- Rooted, Wailuku, Maui
- Naʻike, Kalamaula, Molokaʻi
- Kīpuka Lānaʻi Farms, Lānaʻi
- Drip Studio HNL, Honolulu, Oʻahu
- Moon Kine Tingz, Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu
- Leira Organics, Waiʻanae, Oʻahu
- Hawaiian Checkers.com, Anahola, Kauaʻi
- Mālama Hulēʻia, Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi
2024 Mālama Design Studio cohort 2
Hawaiʻi Island
The Lei Bar
Sunshine Permito-Kaheaku, founder of The Lei Bar, uses 100% Hawaiʻi-grown florals and foliage to create custom lei. The business also offers workshops that teach traditional lei-making techniques while fostering a deep connection to Hawaiian culture and ʻāina. Often gathering materials herself, Sunshine hopes to perpetuate lei-making as a sacred expression and embodiment of aloha. Always seasonal, The Lei Bar has hosted pop-ups across the pae ʻāina from private events to large festivals.
Kauaʻi
SBH Taro Farms
Located in Hanalei, Kauaʻi, SBH Taro Farms is a third-generation business founded by Sierra Lynn-Stone committed to preserving growing traditions of kalo (taro) cultivation. Their efforts to restore and maintain loʻi systems ensure that future generations stay connected to the land through the practice of aloha ʻāina. Their mission is rooted in food sovereignty and perpetuating the cultural significance of kalo for Hawaiʻi’s people.
Summer Foods
Based in Waipouli, Kauaʻi, Summer Foods is transforming the way people access ʻai pono, in their case, plant-based or healthy meals. Sommer Kauakahi, the founder, makes her grab-and-go meals available in local markets and ensures they are accessible to all by accepting EBT. Her focus on locally sourced, organic ingredients not only promotes better health, but also strengthens the local food system.
Maui
Nohoʻana Farm
Located in Waikapū, Maui, Nohoʻana Farm has become a leader in community-based agroforestry since its establishment in 2004. Founded by Hōkūao Pellegrino and Alana Kaʻōpūiki-Pellegrino, their mission is to restore loʻi kalo systems and educate the next generation about sustainable, regenerative agriculture. By blending ancestral knowledge with modern farming techniques, Nohoʻana Farm has supported families across Maui and continues to provide vital resources, such as poi, to communities in need.
Molokaʻi
All Things Molokai
Situated in Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi, All Things Molokai serves as a retail hub for local artisans and makers. Through this creative space, founder Wailani Tanaka supports local entrepreneurship and keeps the Molokaʻi economy strong by ensuring that locally made products are promoted and sold. Her mission is to highlight and preserve the unique stories of Molokaʻi’s artisans while fostering a sustainable island economy.
Pualei Farm
A multi-generational ʻohana farm in Hoʻolehua, Molokaʻi, Pualei Farm grows fresh produce and empowers others to do the same through backyard farming. During the pandemic, the Gamiao family shared their abundant harvest with their community, strengthening their bond with the land and with each other. Pualei Farm’s mission is to promote food security and provide education on ʻai pono practices to create a healthier Molokaʻi.
Oʻahu
Honi Hala
Pūlama Long, the visionary behind Honi Hala, weaves lau hala (pandanus leaf), and teaches ulana (weaving) to keep the art alive in the household. Honi Hala offers workshops that help individuals reconnect with their ancestral practices while promoting the grassroots community care of hala trees. Pūlama’s dedication to education has led to the launch of a hana noʻeau school, Ke Kula ʻo Poʻowai Nui, which launched in summer 2024.
Her Hands Create Waiwai
Heather Castellano of Her Hands Create Waiwai, based in Wahiawā, Oʻahu, focuses on empowering Native Hawaiian women by guiding them to financial harmony. Heather combines personal and business finance with cultural values to help mana wāhine achieve financial stability. Her work extends beyond financial literacy, fostering sustainability and prosperity for future generations by creating wealth that aligns with the values of the lāhui.
Kino Konnections
Kino Konnections, based on Oʻahu, offers workshops on practical lomi techniques, empowering individuals to take care of their own wellbeing and that of their ʻohana. By teaching accessible lomi skills, Ikaika Wright enables people to exercise medical sovereignty without needing years of formal training. The business strengthens the community by helping families reclaim traditional healing practices.
Puʻuhonua Mākeke
Founded at the Nation of Hawaiʻi in Waimānalo, Oʻahu, by Lehua Kanahele-Santos, Puʻuhonua Mākeke offers a safe space for Native Hawaiian vendors to sell their products and share their talents. The market embodies self-determination, allowing local artisans and business owners to thrive by maintaining control over their own economic futures. The Mākeke promotes Hawaiian entrepreneurship while creating a space for community connection and cultural exchange.
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