is helping local food entrepreneurs turn homegrown products into global business opportunities.
For Tatsuyoshi Omura, founder of ReBran, the journey began with granola made from upcycled rice bran. Just one year after launching, his products are sold at Foodland and Down to Earth. He also participated in his first Made in Hawaiʻi Festival and pitched international buyers at the Tokyo International Gift Show alongside fellow Leeward CC ʻ?ina to Mākeke alumni.
“Leeward CC and the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center (WVAPDC) have really opened up a world that I did not know much about before starting this business,” Omura said. “Selling ReBran in Japan no longer feels like just an idea. I came away with a stronger sense of how we can continue growing”
Building businesses beyond Hawaiʻi
Omura was among entrepreneurs supported by Leeward CC and state partners during a series of trade shows. At the Daniel K. Akaka American Logistics Association Hawaiʻi Show, 11 WVAPDC-supported brands pitched to military buyers, while 20 program alumni exhibited at the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival.
Pierre Daguzan, founder of Daguzan Charcuterie, received feedback from military buyers about bringing his products into commissaries. At the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival, he joined KTA Super Stores President Derek Kurisu for a live demonstration featuring venison p?té musubi.
“These events are not only about making sales for a few days; they introduce the brand to new customers who can continue supporting us afterward,” Daguzan said. “For a small company with ambitions to grow, having that ecosystem of support is extremely valuable.”
Hawaiʻi Grown to Global
Building on that momentum, Leeward CC and the Hawaiʻi Ag & Culinary Alliance are launching Hawaiʻi Grown to Global on December 1. The 12-week export readiness program covers international regulations, labeling and logistics, culminating at FOODEX Japan.
“Entrepreneurs need stronger systems and reliable partnerships to meet the expectations of larger buyers without losing the quality and identity that made them successful,” said WVAPDC Manager Chris Bailey. “Our goal is to help Hawaiʻi entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses, not simply launch products.”
– by Devon Bedoya