{"id":1782,"date":"2026-06-24T12:35:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T12:35:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=1782"},"modified":"2026-06-24T12:35:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T12:35:36","slug":"hawaii-made-conference-highlights-push-to-grow-local-food-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=1782","title":{"rendered":"Hawaii Made Conference highlights push to grow local food industry"},"content":{"rendered":"
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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Local businesses and state leaders came together Tuesday to discuss the future of Hawaii\u2019s food industry.<\/p>\n

Read more Search continues for suspect in 16-year Kauai murder case<\/a><\/p>\n

The discussion took place during the fourth annual Hawaii Made Conference, hosted by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s conference focused on the Food and Product Innovation Network (FPIN), a statewide effort aimed at helping local businesses bring Hawaii-made products to market through improved access to training, funding, product development resources, and distribution networks.<\/p>\n

The event included the signing of a memorandum of agreement among state agencies, educational institutions and industry partners, intended to strengthen collaboration and support local entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz said the initiative is designed to ensure organizations are working together toward common goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is something that has not really been done before, where departments are working together, making a commitment in writing,\u201d Dela Cruz said. \u201cThis is the beginning, this is the end, this is a seamless transition, so that entrepreneurs really can get the best support they can from government.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Woman seriously hurt in H-1 rollover near University Ave. exit<\/a><\/p>\n

Among those attending was Sheryl Kahue, co-owner and manager of uCook Hawaii, who said building relationships with local farmers is critical to her business.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor us the importance is also the relationships \u2014 building relationships with the farmers, building relationships with the customers,\u201d Kahue said. \u201cWe try to utilize as many of the farmers as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kahue also highlighted the importance of support from state programs and private industry partners in helping small businesses grow.<\/p>\n

\u201cDBEDT has been really helpful in helping us expose our product to different markets,\u201d Kahue said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been supportive in continuing to come alongside us and promote our product, promote our brand and educate us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Organizers said the conference is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Hawaii\u2019s local food system, support entrepreneurship and create new opportunities for locally made products.<\/p>\n

Read more Two in Hawaii charged in nationwide health care fraud, opioid crackdown<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Local businesses and leaders met at the Hawaii Made Conference to expand FPIN, boosting training, funding and distribution for Hawaii-made products.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1781,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nHawaii Made Conference highlights push to grow local food industry - Hawaii Moving Insider<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=1782\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hawaii Made Conference highlights push to grow local food industry - 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