Located at the Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows in Lahaina, the new Maui location of House of Mana Up provides more than just shopping. It celebrates Hawai‘i’s rich culture, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. As part of the Hawai‘i-based accelerator program, this carefully curated store features locally made products from some of the island’s most innovative artisans, allowing visitors to connect with the stores and the creators behind each item. The Maui store offers a range of artisan foods, sustainable fashion, and unique home goods, inviting guests to experience the spirit of modern Hawai‘i through a diverse selection and purposeful shopping.

Founded by Meli James and Brittany Heyd, Mana Up is a six-month intensive accelerator program designed to help Hawai‘i-based product companies scale globally while generating meaningful economic opportunities in the islands. Each cohort brings together around 10 local brands in categories such as food, beauty, home goods, and fashion that already have established revenue levels. Through curated workshops, executive mentorship, resources, and sales opportunities, the program helps elevate each brand and its infrastructure, amplifying its stories to a larger audience. Since its inception, Mana Up has supported 105 companies, generating $105 million in revenue among its graduates.

To provide a platform for cohort members and alumni, the organization established marketplaces on the islands of O‘ahu at the South Shore Market in Kaka‘ako and in Hawai‘i at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Its newest marketplace, located at the Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows, opened in May 2025. Situated in the resort’s lobby, guests can shop for locally made products while also enjoying a variety of experiences in the store. These include meeting Hawai‘i-based makers, watching live product demonstrations, and attending product launches. The interactive experiences offered by the House of Mana Up storefronts provide a unique way to engage with local rising talent.

One standout brand featured on the shelves of House of Mana Up is HI Spice, a small-batch craft hot sauce company grown and inspired on Maui. Founded by husband-and-wife team Justin and Katie Orr, HI Spice began as a backyard hobby when the couple discovered their knack for growing chili peppers in their garden. Finding themselves uninspired by typical hot sauce offerings at restaurants and with a surplus of chili peppers at home, they started crafting sauces, blending their chili peppers with island fruits and vegetables. Today, HI Spice is known for its bold, locally rooted creations, such as Dragon Fruit Hot Sauce and Sriracha Kiawe Hot Sauce. 

Although the company was founded in 2016, it was their participation in the Mana Up program that allowed them to elevate their operations. “We were looking at ways to expand distribution in Hawai‘i,” says Justin. “Our website was rudimentary, and through Mana Up, we were able to connect with Shopify and transform our direct-to-consumer business. We were also looking to shore up our message because we know what makes our company awesome, fun, and spicy, but conveying that message can be difficult, so Mana Up was able to help us galvanize the message we were trying to share.”

For Justin, attending the weekly workshops on O‘ahu was incredibly valuable, offering insights and support that helped shape HI Spice, even though the frequent flights made it a challenge to attend. “It was daunting because you have to figure out how to fly out from Maui every week, which takes you away from production. But it worked out and taught me that if you need to get something done, you just need to figure out a way to make things happen.” With nothing but positive things to say about his time in the Mana Up program, Justin calls the experience a game-changer for small businesses. He credits the program with helping HI Spice expand his business, but, more than anything, he says he is most thankful for the community and meaningful connections he gained along the way. “Being part of the group of entrepreneurs who have graduated from Mana Up creates a network of people you can turn to. We are all like-minded individuals, similar in age and position within our company, who understand what you are going through [and] the trials and tribulations of running a small business. You can turn to these people if you have a question or need to reach out to someone.”

Mana Up has also played a transformative role in Janice Leilani LaFontaine’s journey, who launched Farm to Fudge Maui in 2023. Driven by her journey to overcome an autoimmune disease, Janice founded her company to turn healing into indulgence. After discovering the power of food as medicine and eliminating gluten, dairy, and processed additives, she reimagined treats with nutrient-dense, clean ingredients to create feel-good fudge that allows people with dietary restrictions to enjoy sweets without compromising health or flavor. Although she heard about the accelerator program soon after moving to Maui, she hesitated to apply, believing she wouldn’t qualify. As fate would have it, Janice was discovered at a women’s entrepreneurial conference. “My table host got samples of what I brought and shared them with the Mana Up crew. They interviewed me on the spot and, in a few days, I had an interview for the program followed by an offer to join that cohort,” she recalls.

While Janice describes her time in the Mana Up program as intense, she also calls it an incredible and rewarding experience. “I was not even a year into my business, never launched a food product, but they saw the potential in the product [and] got to know me and my story. They provided me with the support to get going and offered my product huge exposure and awareness.” She also recalls how much she learned from the workshops and guest speakers, gaining insights that helped her grow personally and professionally throughout the program. “The workshops helped expand my understanding of how business works. And being able to visit the governor’s office to learn how government and business intersect, as well as how we can advocate for change in our industries, was huge. The workshops help educate and help build well-rounded business owners,” she says.

At House of Mana Up, every purchase helps support locally owned businesses and the creatives behind them, fostering economic growth and sustainability throughout the islands. By highlighting Hawai‘i-made products, the House of Mana Up not only provides space for authentic, high-quality goods but also strengthens the community and nurtures Hawai'i's entrepreneurial spirit. 

House of Mana Up at the Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows; 2780 Keka‘a Drive, Lahaina; houseofmanaup.com; Open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.