DBEDT to sponsor Made in Hawaiʻi Festival, showcase 28 local businesses in Hawaiʻi Made Pavilion

The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism will again serve as the official government sponsor of the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival, now in its 32nd year, running Aug. 20-23 at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center in Honolulu, according to an announcement.

Twenty-eight local businesses are scheduled to participate in the DBEDT Hawaiʻi Made Pavilion, a 20-booth showcase aimed at helping new and early-stage companies reach customers, the announcement said. The pavilion debuted at the festival in 2025.

This year’s pavilion will include entrepreneurs from Leeward Community College’s ʻĀina to Mākeke food business accelerator program and the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center, along with businesses connected through the Food and Product Innovation Network. The lineup also includes youth-, women- and Native Hawaiian-owned businesses from all four counties, according to DBEDT.

DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka said major retail events like the festival give small businesses access to customers and sales experience that can be difficult to gain independently. The pavilion allows new and early-stage companies to test demand, build a customer base and prepare for larger retail opportunities, he said.

The ʻĀina to Mākeke program helps food entrepreneurs turn home recipes into market-ready products through training in product development, pricing, branding and commercial growth, the release said.

Chris Bailey, manager of the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center, said participants put months of work into developing market-ready products. The festival gives graduates a chance to sell in a high-traffic setting, hear directly from customers and refine how they present their products, he said.

While the festival is held on Oʻahu, DBEDT’s Hawaiʻi Made program supports businesses statewide, including on Maui, by promoting goods and services authentically made in Hawaiʻi and helping build consumer trust in local products.

Businesses scheduled to participate in the 2026 DBEDT Hawaiʻi Made Pavilion include:

Leeward Community College/Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center ʻĀina to Mākeke graduates:
Da Tomato Guy, Daguzan Charcuterie, Good Boy, Haleiwa Salt Co., Honolulu Mochi, Kenny Boy Ice Cream, Makamaka Snacks, Mochi Momma, Okonokai and Shaka Butter.

Other DBEDT Hawaiʻi Made Pavilion businesses:
Aloha ʻOe Designs, Aloha Paws Kauaʻi, Besdee Dog Co., Black Rose Aesthetics, Definitely Baba, Ele Kauai, Holoholo Gold, Island Scents of Aloha, Kanoelani’s Finest Designs, Kolohe Boyz, Kuleana Hawaiʻi Grown, Mahea Leah, Mahiʻai Made, Maikui’s Creations, Mimi’s Made, Paradise Preserved, Puʻuwai Paiʻiʻai and Schorr Design.

The 2026 Made in Hawaiʻi Festival is expected to feature more than 800 vendor booths across nearly 300,000 square feet, along with live entertainment, chef demonstrations, fashion shows and tastings. Festival hours and ticket information are available on the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival website.