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ALOHA MARKET IN NEW YORK CITY SUPPORTS MAUI SMALL BUSINESSES
10 Maui companies to be featured at Mana Up’s first-ever Hawaii shopping event in Manhattan
New York, NY – (April 18, 2024 ) Mana Up’s inaugural Aloha Market in Manhattan is a multi-day Hawai‘i-themed immersive shopping and cultural event that will be held at Shopify NY in SoHo from April 26 -28, 2024. This landmark event will feature a vibrant showcase of 40 companies with unique, island-made products that support and celebrate numerous small businesses from Maui, who endured the devastating effects of the 2023 wildfires.
Over eight months have passed since the August 2023 wildfires completely destroyed the historic Western Maui town of Lahaina. In response, massive resources and efforts have been dedicated to rebuilding the island’s economy. Aloha Market is presented by Mana Up, a Hawaii-based economic development initiative that helps local companies grow and thrive. This event will shine a spotlight on these 10 Maui-based businesses in a special area, called “Aloha for Maui,” dedicated to the products from this island. Aloha Market will also host insightful educational sessions focused on Maui’s ongoing recovery efforts. Several of these Maui-based companies will be appearing in person to perform demos, speak at panels and meet attendees.
Among the featured 40 participants at this one-of-a-kind event are several Maui-based small companies. These privately-owned businesses include Advance Wildlife Education; HI Spice; Maui Chili Chili Oil; Maui Crisps; Maui Kuia Estate; Maui Nui; Nāpili FLO Farm; Chef Sheldon Simeon, Vitalitea Hawaii, and Wrappily.
“We stand in solidarity with our Maui entrepreneurs at our Aloha Market, and we encourage attendees to visit our event, engage with these fantastic Hawaii companies and see what they have to offer the New York community,” says Meli James, co-founder of Mana Up. “Now more ever, supporting our small businesses on Maui is paramount, especially as many rely on the tourism industry for their livelihoods. Even today, the ripple effect of the wildfires persist, and our small companies are continuing to face challenges.”
In addition to the Maui-based businesses, this event will present over 40 Hawai‘i creators and entrepreneurs, along with a variety of activities such as: flower lei-making, food tastings, cooking demos, children’s activities, Hawaii-focused educational sessions and other special events. Aloha Market is also supported by official Hawaii partners HVCB and HTA; as well as Shopify, Hawaiian Host Group and Kahala.
Anyone who is interested in donating to Maui relief fundsshould visithttps://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/strengthening/maui-strong-fund
Aloha Market facts:
For more information and to RSVP, visithttps://manaupalohamarket.splashthat.com/.
About Mana Up
Mana Up is an accelerator and venture fund for Hawaiʻi-based products growing to markets globally, with the mission to increase economic opportunity and jobs for the people of Hawaiʻi. To date, 85 local companies have participated in the six-month accelerator program that provides expansion opportunities and helps solve business challenges. For more information about the accelerator program, visit www.manauphawaii.com, and to shop House of Mana Up, visit https://houseofmanaup.com.
Mana Up is supported by Kamehameha Schools, Castle & Cooke Hawai’i, Bank of Hawaii, ALTRES, Hawaiian Airlines, Kaiser Permanente Hawai’i, Hawai’i Technology Development Corporation, Innovate Hawai’i, American Savings Bank, Ulupono Initiative, Young Brothers, UHA Health Insurance, Pineapple Tweed, Shopify, Foodland and Dole.