Meet the newest 10 local companies joining mana up's cohort 9!
By Debra Bokur
Jan 10, 2023
Baby, it’s cold outside — really cold — and if dreaming of tropical islands helps you keep warm, Hawai’i-based, women-operated Mana Up can fuel your fantasy with plenty of great, locally crafted artisan products deliverable directly to your snowy doorstep.
All products — food, textiles, home, health and beauty — are created with Hawaiian ingredients, elements or materials by Hawaiian and Hawai’i-based artisan entrepreneurs. The company is dedicated to helping local Hawaiian food, culinary and agricultural-focused small businesses grow their audience. Craft tea blender Byron Goo of Tea Chest Hawaii works with local tea farmers to create USDA-certified organic tea blends, including mango peach tea; jasmine tea; Nanea tea for anxiety and stress; Mana tea for immunity; Mahina tea to promote sleep; and other delicious, sustainably produced blends.
© Mana Up
Mahina Tuteur’s Surf Shack Puzzles feature artwork designed by female artists, including Punky Aloha Studio and Aloha de Mele. Mālama Mushrooms, founded by Benjamin Lillibridge, is a family-owned functional food company that packages health-boosting blends of superfood mushrooms such as Lion’s Mane cacao mix, Cordyceps mushroom extract powder and Reishi mushroom extract powder. Other producers include Bradley & Lily’s stationery and paper goods; Sea Salts of Hawaii, Hanalei skincare products utilizing native botanicals such as papaya, kukui nut oil and aloe; Manele Spice Co.’s island-inspired spice blends; and an exclusive collection of products made in collaboration with the late Duke Kahanamoku’s operating partner.
Among the dozens of themed, ready-to-ship Hawai’ian gift sets are the Manoa chocolate gift set with macadamia nut spread and a variety of chocolates packed in a branded canvas tote; locally sourced foods with honey, chocolate, spices, nuts, salt and more; and the Hawaiian Airlines Mana Up travel set with stress-relief tea, chocolate-covered nuts, lip balm, a Bradley & Lily luggage tag, smoked jerky and a hibiscus wrap from Meli Wraps, created in partnership with Hawaiian Airlines.
You can also build your own gift box with a personally curated selection of items. Lucky enough to be in the islands and want to peruse the offerings up close? The newest House of Mana Up store just opened at Prince Waikiki hotel in Honolulu, and you can find other Honolulu retail locations at the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki.