Aloha kākou! This month in Ka Wai Ola, we celebrate the strength, creativity, and resilience of Native Hawaiian small businesses. Across our pae ʻāina, Hawaiian-owned enterprises continue to reflect the values of our people — ingenuity, aloha ʻāina, and a deep sense of kuleana to community.
Our cover story features Hawaiian Force, a Hilo-based apparel company that, for more than 40 years, has done more than sell clothing — it has carried the message of Hawaiian pride and unity. Their work reminds us that business can be an extension of our identity, a way to uplift our culture, and a platform to support the broader movement for Hawaiian empowerment.
But this story is also an invitation — a call to every Kanaka with a dream, a skill, or a passion waiting to be shared. Now is the time to build your vision. Whether your heart is in farming, design, food, music, or technology, there is room for you in Hawaiʻi’s economy.
You don’t need to wait for permission — our kūpuna were entrepreneurs long before the term existed. They cultivated, traded, innovated, and prospered through resourcefulness and collaboration. That same spirit lives in us today.
Starting a business can feel daunting, but you are not alone. Across our islands, the Native Hawaiian Chambers of Commerce — on Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi Island, and Molokaʻi — are here to support you. Each chamber offers mentorship, training, and opportunities to connect with other Native Hawaiian business owners. They are networks of shared vision and collective strength.
If you haven’t yet joined your island’s chamber, I encourage you to do so. Membership is more than access to resources — it’s about belonging to a movement that sees business as a form of community building.
As Native Hawaiians, supporting each other’s businesses is also an act of sovereignty. Every time we buy local, hire local, and invest local, we keep wealth circulating in our communities and sustaining our ʻohana. We build pride in our work and resilience in our economy.
At the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, we remain committed to Native Hawaiian economic empowerment through grants, programs, and partnerships that foster opportunity and self-determination. But I believe the greatest power lies within each of us — in the courage to take that first step, to act on an idea, and to transform passion into purpose.
So, to every Kanaka who has ever dreamed of owning a business: E hele kākou. Step forward with confidence. Your ideas matter. Your talents are needed. Your success strengthens our entire lāhui.
Our ancestors built thriving systems of trade and cooperation — we honor them by continuing that legacy today. Let us grow enterprises that not only sustain us but also uplift our culture and future generations.
“E lawe i ke aʻo a mālama, a e ʻoi mau ka naʻauao — Take what you have learned and apply it, so your wisdom may grow.”
To all Kānaka enterprise owners — mahalo nui for your courage, creativity, and commitment to our lāhui.
