From coffee to ice pops: Hawaii vendors pitch local flavors to military buyers

News admin August 12, 2026 0 Comments

From coffee to ice pops: Hawaii vendors pitch local flavors to military buyers

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Dozens of local businesses gathered at the Prince Waikiki Tuesday to pitch their products directly to military buyers.

Roughly 70 vendors, including 25 first-time participants, took part in the annual Daniel K. Akaka American Logistics Association (ALA) Hawaii Food Show.

They served up samples of bread, meat, fish, snacks, coffee, and more with the goal of landing on Defense Commissary Agency and Military Exchange shelves.

Justin Udom, founder of Pop Culture Artisan Pops, is a second-time vendor. His gourmet ice pops and ice cream bars are already carried at the Navy Exchange Pearl Harbor.

“When we did this show three or four years ago, all the branches wanted to carry us. We just couldn’t keep up because there’s so much demand,” Udom said.

Udom said the show offers valuable exposure to a broader market.

“The opportunity is so huge. If you really wanted to, you could take your product national. We’re a small local business, so we had to start small,” he added.

Organizers said the show brings quality products to military families and service members throughout Hawaii.

“Our service members, when they come here, they love Hawaii,” said ALA Hawaii chair Sharon Zambo-Fan. “So when they leave, they take Hawaii with them and that provides the opportunities for the local companies to expand their sales.”

During the showcase, businesses connect with military buyers who offer feedback on packaging, presentation, and marketing. Organizers said purchasing decisions are made within a week.

“So when the show is done, they sit down and they talk about if your items were approved, that they weren’t approved, and that’s the time to ask a question, ‘Well what do I need to do to get my product sold? Because you have to be retail ready,’” Zambo-Fan said.

More than 7,200 local products have been selected for commissary shelves throughout the show’s history. Longtime companies like Hawaiian Host, Hawaii Coffee Company, and Menehune Water Company have been doing business with military commissaries for more than two decades.

Organizers said local businesses can boost sales and potentially expand to commissaries and exchanges on the continental U.S. and in Southeast Asia.

“Our biggest mission at the center is to support local food resilience and foster the system,” Zambo-Fan said. “We’re less reliable on import. We can revitalize our local agriculture, and also just help share Hawaii’s flavors with our community and also beyond.”