Across the Island of Hawai‘i, local products and stories are coming to life in exciting new ways. Mana Up, the accelerator program devoted to helping homegrown businesses grow and reach broader markets, now operates three retail outlets on the Island of Hawai‘i where shoppers can discover 100% Hawai‘i-made brands, meet the makers behind them, and directly support the island’s economy. But these stores are more than just retail spaces; they are immersive windows into the heart and soul of Hawai‘i. Each location showcases the island’s creativity, meticulous craftsmanship, and vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. 

Founded in 2018 by Meli James and Brittany Heyd, Mana Up serves as a launchpad for Hawai‘i-based consumer brands ready to grow, innovate, and reach new markets. Designed for locally owned businesses in retail, beauty, or value-added food products, the program requires full-time owner commitment, ensuring participants are fully invested in taking their companies to the next level. 

Over six intensive weeks, entrepreneurs are immersed in a carefully curated experience that blends practical business training with strategic mentorship. Participants engage in hands-on workshops and one-on-one sessions with their mentors, equipping them with tools to analyze their companies, identify weaknesses, explore potential sales expansions, and uncover hidden growth opportunities. But Mana Up is not just about metrics and strategies; it is also about connecting the people behind the businesses. Each cohort forms a tight-knit community of like-minded entrepreneurs, creating a lasting network of support that extends beyond the program’s end. 

The Mana Up program includes the House of Mana Up shops, vibrant retail spaces that bring Hawai‘i’s local brands directly to consumers across the state. These retail locations offer a unique opportunity for homegrown businesses to make sales without the burden of high retail rents, creating a platform where passion and entrepreneurship meet accessibility. On Hawai‘i Island, shoppers can explore House of Mana Up locations at the Mauna Loa Visitor Center in Hilo, the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort in Waimea, and the Mauna Kea Beach Resort along the stunning Kohala Coast. 

At the House of Mana Up locations, shoppers can discover brands like Little Hands Hawaii, whose reef-safe sunscreen is safe for the whole ‘ohana (family). Founded in 2011 by Rosalyn Ardoin, the company was born out of a personal mission. After the birth of her first daughter, Rosalyn struggled to find a sunscreen that was safe for both her family and Hawai‘i’s fragile coral reefs. Frustrated by the toxic chemicals in conventional products, she turned to her own kitchen to create a gentle, environmentally friendly formula.

While continuing to pursue her career as a registered nurse, Rosalyn began making batches for family and friends. Word of mouth soon spread, and retailers took notice, eager to stock her non-toxic, reef-friendly sunscreen. In 2016, her husband, Michael, joined the business, and together they have grown both their family and company. Michael recalls hearing about the Mana Up program from a family friend, and after completing it, he recalls that the couple emerged with greater confidence and valuable business connections. Today, the brand’s product line includes body and face mineral sunscreens, mineral sunscreen face sticks, after-sun salves, whipped body butters, and diaper balms, all in their plastic-free packaging printed with soy ink.

Also, on the shelves at House of Mana Up are products from Mālama Mushrooms, a family-owned brand founded by Ben Lillibridge, an agriculturalist and environmental scientist whose passion for fungi has grown into a mission. After learning about the medicinal potential of fungi, he developed a gourmet medicinal mushroom operation in Kona, which led to the establishment of Mālama Mushrooms. Today, his company offers a range of innovative products, including a Mushroom Matcha Coconut Latte mix featuring Lion’s Mane, the 8-Mushroom Superfood Power Blend, and potent mushroom tinctures. 

Lillibridge first heard about the Mana Up program while at a Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, California. After applying, he recalls what some of his hopes were for the program. “Some of my biggest hopes and expectations were centered around mentorship and guidance. I don’t think the majority of us Mana Up members went to business school. We’re just passionate people that had a product idea and started going for it,” he says. 

While the Mana Up program has delivered measurable benefits for his company, it is the personal relationships forged along the way that he values most. “There are definite tangible benefits. It was a big help in getting our brand into Foodland and connecting with new customers from Tokyo to Los Angeles to New York City at the various Aloha Marketplaces we’ve taken part in. Ultimately, I think it’s the relationships I’ve made with other alumni that are incredibly helpful resources for me,” he explains. 

For Big Island Coffee Roasters, co-founders Kelleigh Stewart and Brandon von Damitz, participation in the Mana Up program has been transformative, propelling their company both in size and direction. Von Damitz recalls that when they first applied, the company was still very small, but the pair approached the opportunity with curiosity and openness. “We didn’t know what we didn’t know, but we knew we didn’t know or understand much, so we approached the program with an eagerness to learn,” he says. 

At the time, they entered the program with their signature Espresso Bites, crafted with 100% Hawaiian coffee and organic ingredients that deliver a rich, chocolate-like flavor —yet contain no chocolate at all. Today, Big Island Coffee Roasters has grown from a team of two to more than twenty-two, working closely with farmers across the state to offer a diverse range of Hawaiian coffees that are carefully milled in small batches and roasted to order. 

“For us, [Mana Up] was a game changer. The Mana Up program launched us in a totally different (but better) direction,” says von Damitz. When we talk about it internally, the program was the single greatest influence on how and why we are the business we are today. Mana Up created a community of people and resources that didn’t exist before and were sorely needed. For that, we’ll forever be grateful. It’s a network we can tap into any time [and that] community element is just as powerful at creating resiliency as are the practical resources, opportunities, and workshops,” he says.

Since its launch in 2018, the Mana Up Program has supported over 105 local businesses, which together have generated more than $105 million in revenue from their alumni and created over 1,000 jobs across Hawai‘i. Each success story represents a growing network of local makers, dreamers, and doers strengthening the islands’ economy from within. So, when you visit a House of Mana Up store, every purchase carries purpose, investing in the people, stories, and communities that make Hawai‘i thrive. 

House of Mana Up and Mana Up Markets are located at:

Mauna Loa Visitor Center; 16-701 Macadamia Road, Kea‘au; (808) 966-8618; Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; hawaiianhost.com/pages/maunaloa-visitor-center.

The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort — Plumeria Market (Lobby); 62-100 Kauna‘oa Drive, Kohala Coast; Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; houseofmanaup.com/pages/westin-hapuna-beach-resort-kona-hawai%CA%BBi-island?zCountry=US.

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel — Mauna Kea Market (Lobby); 62-100 Mauna Kea Beach Drive, Kohala Coast; Open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; houseofmanaup.com/pages/store-mk?zCountry=US.