ʻĀina to Mākeke Showcase Celebrates Local Food Entrepreneurs, Hawaiʻi-Made Products

Showcase falls on first anniversary of the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center

ʻĀina to Mākeke cohort five entrepreneurs present locally-made products at the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center

ʻĀina to Mākeke cohort five entrepreneurs present locally-made products at the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center

ʻĀina to Mākeke cohort five entrepreneurs present locally-made products at the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center

Nearly 150 people gathered last night at Leeward Community College’s (“Leeward CC”) Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center (“WVAPDC” or “the Center”) for the ʻĀina to Mākeke Showcase. The event featured a curated preview of exciting new products from 15 local entrepreneurs who just completed the ‘Āina to Mākeke program – a 12-week food business course, presented by Leeward CC’s Office of Workforce Development in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Ag & Culinary Alliance (“HACA”). The program equips participants with the skills to scale home recipes into market-ready food products. 

The April 30 showcase marked the end of the program’s fifth installment, bringing together community members, food industry leaders, and state officials to celebrate the 15 makers, which include Bake You a Smile, Chef Friend Hawaii by Nami Kaze, Daguzan Charcuterie, Grok Coffee, Hapa Hawaiian Salts, Huli-Huli Chicken LLC, Kiʻikiʻi Farm Provisions, Madres Churros, Mana-Su LLC, Nui Kealoha, Onomea Farm Hub, Pineapple Road Beverage Co., Red Sea Hawaiʻi Connection LLC, The Doggy Kitchen, and uCook Hawaiʻi LLC.

“What we’re building here at WVAPDC is bigger than a food production facility — it’s a movement,” said WVAPDC Manager Chris Bailey. “It’s about empowering our local entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to succeed. Watching cohort five grow their businesses and step into the market with confidence is exactly why this center exists. Their success is our community’s success.”

Cohort five entrepreneurs now join the more than 60 other local small businesses that have completed the popular ‘Āina to Mākeke program. Many have already expanded their locally-sourced products to shelves in major retailers, including 7-Eleven, ChefZone, Foodland, ABC Stores, and Down to Earth.
“This showcase is a powerful reminder of the impact education can have when it’s connected directly to community and opportunity,” said Leeward Community College Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza. “WVAPDC represents the best of what we strive for at Leeward CC: innovation, access, and real-world outcomes. We’re proud to present programs like ʻĀina to Mākeke that not only teach, but also transform lives and build a stronger, more resilient Hawai‘i.”

The cohort five showcase coincided with the Center’s first anniversary month – a milestone that was formally recognized by the Hawai‘i State Senate with a commemorative certificate presented during the event by Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, a longtime champion of Hawaiʻi’s economic development and an instrumental architect of the Center’s vision and funding.

“This facility has, in just one year, transformed the landscape for local food entrepreneurs, farmers, and students across our islands,” said State Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz. “This Center embodies our shared vision for economic resilience and diversification in Hawai‘i. On behalf of the Senate, I am honored to present this certificate recognizing the Center’s remarkable achievements and the bright future it promises for our state.”

Since opening in April 2024, WVAPDC has served more than 1,000 entrepreneurs, farmers, and students through hands-on workshops, webinars, and programs. The next ʻĀina to Mākeke cohort, featuring 15 new entrepreneurs, will begin the program on May 27, 2025. 

Scholarships for the program—made possible through the support of HACA in cooperation with the State of Hawai‘i—help eliminate financial barriers for participants. In alignment with the program’s mission to strengthen Hawai‘i’s food systems, all participating entrepreneurs incorporate locally grown, raised, or caught ingredients in their products, supporting the state’s agricultural producers and promoting a more resilient local economy.

Media kit (Courtesy of Leeward Community College):

• Photos
• B-roll
• Soundbites
• Copy of Hawaii State Senate Certificate honoring WVAPDC’s first anniversary

About WVAPDC

The Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center (WVAPDC) is a state-of-the-art facility of the University of Hawaiʻi Leeward Community College and the State of Hawaiʻi, contributing to the growth of Hawaiʻi’s agricultural industry and entrepreneurial community through:

• Premier educational programming to students and community members, empowering Hawaiʻi’s entrepreneurial ecosystem for generations to come.
• Increased opportunities for local farmers and growers to sell their products to value-added producers.
• Supporting local entrepreneurs to incubate their business through access to small business resources, production kitchens and in-house product and process development.

The WVAPDC is a 33,000 square foot food manufacturing facility located in Wahiawā in Central Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. Our center is a resource for food entrepreneurship and education. We offer product development consultation services, lab testing and production kitchens.

We serve Hawaiʻi’s processors, entrepreneurs, farmers and students focused on developing and creating food products. This effort aligns with the State of Hawaiʻi and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s (DBEDT) efforts to diversify the local economy. By introducing Hawaiʻi-made products to a larger audience, the WVAPDC provides a platform for entrepreneurial growth and fosters export opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s unique agricultural and value-added products.

For more information about WVAPDC and to receive our monthly newsletter and event information, please visit our website, or email vapdc@hawaii.edu and follow us on Instagram.

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