A group of small business owners and leaders of non-profits recently attended a workshop to grow their business with AI. The half-day workshop was hosted by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and presented by Marc Rix, an international adviser, speaker, consultant, and trainer.
A Maui resident and serial small business founder, Marc has guided some of the world’s largest organizations through major technology shifts and helps business leaders put AI to work in practical, human-first ways.
“My goal was simple,” said Rix. “Help Maui’s business leaders separate AI myth from fact and apply AI in their organizations for fast, measurable results. Watching the room evolve from curious to confident to building real, working solutions before lunch proves that you can noticeably raise the tide on AI fluency on Maui in the right setting.”
Rix believes business leaders are being buried in AI noise, hype, and misinformation. The interactive workshop’s whole intent was to help them see through it and succeed with AI on their own terms.
Participants were asked to come prepared with a problem (or two) to solve. Rix helped them to build three “super skills” together, identify quick-win opportunities for AI in their own businesses, and had each leader build a working AI solution they took back to work that same day.
Wayne Wong, Director of Hawaii Small Business Development Center on Maui took part and said, “The workshop struck an unusually effective balance: enough AI understanding to build confidence, enough hands-on practice to make it tangible, and a strong connection to the everyday realities of running a small business.”
Dan Ellis, President of Pacific Millworks added, “We loved the delivery, engagement, and how we used our own business problems, not a textbook.”
MEDB runs workshops with support of County of Maui to assist small businesses owners and entrepreneurs. This workshop gave the confidence and practical skills to turn everyday challenges into working AI solutions—saving time and helping them focus on growing their businesses.
This workshop was not about AI hype, tooling, or engineering — It was about building business leaders’ AI intuition with practical, 80/20, people-first guidance.
– Marc Rix, Advisor, Speaker, Consultant
‘Oko’a Farms, a Maui certified-organic farm established by Ryan Earehart and business partner Sal Gil Coca, began in 2008 and has dramatically boosted Maui’s fresh food system. ‘Oko’a, meaning ‘unique’ in Hawaiian, reflects the team’s commitment to a holistic approach to agriculture. Between their two ‘Oko’a stores, Kulamalu Town Center and Wailea Village, they offer 160 varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs. ‘Oko’a grows over 125 crops on their farm, with the rest supplied by trusted local growers.
“The magic behind our farm comes from Sal’s expertise in farm production and my passion for community networking through healthy food.” said Earehart. “Together, we have built a robust network of dozens of local vendors and producers. We began our operations on a lone parcel of land in Kula, then expanded to four weekly farmer markets where customers would wait 30 minutes to purchase our produce.”
Now, in their stores, they sell produce that looks and tastes incredible. People say they have the freshest, highest-quality, organically-grown produce on the island. “Our mission is to invest in Maui’s future by strengthening food security and supporting other local farmers,” Earehart noted. “We continue to find unique ways to move in the direction of local food resilience by educating our customers about regenerative, organic, and sustainable farming practices; all thriving in harmony with the land.”
Earehart and Gil Coca also represent a powerful collaboration on Maui that bridges sustainable agriculture with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. They provide immersive, hands-on learning experiences that prepare local youth for cutting-edge careers in food production and climate-smart technology. This year, ‘Oko’a will also become a host-site for Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks™ Agriculture Business & Technology Internship Program.
“Interns on the farm will learn how modern technology and scientific principles solve real-world agricultural challenges,” Earhart added. “We focus on vertically-integrated farming, starting from the soil, to seed, to finished nutrient dense food: Studying how ’Oko’a recycles nutrients by utilizing waste from our farm operations, tilapia ponds, and chickens and goats, to fertilize our organic crops; Soil Microbiology: Learning how to nurture underground mycelium networks to naturally transport nutrients between crops without relying on chemical fertilizers; and Agribusiness Technology: Developing modern skills in farm logistics, supply chains, and tech-driven resource management.”
To witness our farming practices firsthand, we offer farm tours to explore the fields where we cultivate over 125 unique crops, have over 1,000 pasture-raised free-range chickens for egg production, and goats rotationally grazing throughout the year.
– Ryan Earehart, co-owner ‘Oko’a Farms
A recently held Blue Startups Maui Founders Mixer and Pau Hana, presented by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), proved to be a great opportunity for the community to connect, collaborate, and grow alongside fellow entrepreneurs and innovators. Attendees met the builders shaping Maui’s startup scene and were able to network to help expand their businesses, pitch their own startups, and learn about Blue Startups in Hawai’i.
Blue Startups was founded in 2012 with the goal of diversifying Hawai’i’s economy by leveraging its unique strengths. It was designed to give startup companies every advantage: mentorship, access to business expertise, product testing, peer review, customer acquisition, pitch development, introductions to investors, and seed funding.
David Holt, Program Director at Blue Startups, explained, “Given that the development of a technology sector in Hawai’i is relatively new and growing, it is important to foster the community. We emphasize product development and global go-to-market strategies following a mentor-driven approach to acceleration. Focused on recruiting capital-efficient and scalable technology companies, we strive for 50% of our companies to be female founded and led”
Blue Startups welcomes ambitious, creative, and well-organized individuals to apply to join the next cohort. Held annually, the program is an opportunity to gain firsthand experience with the day-to-day workings of the startup/venture capital ecosystem. Selectees join a 12- week program: 3 weeks virtual, 8 weeks on-site at their Honolulu headquarters, and 1 week in San Francisco where there is access to a 400+ investor network.
“A Top 20 Accelerator in the U.S., we are very focused on helping scalable-technology companies compete globally,” Holt said. “We aim to stimulate economic growth in Hawai’i and create new business opportunities by providing the most promising entrepreneurs with the advice and connections they need the most.”
Maui entrepreneurs excitedly pitched their businesses during the event. John Dobovan, Founder & CEO of Maui Trout Company said, “Like so many other under-capitalized small businesses, we are still working to secure financial footing. Blue Startups offered great advice.
MEDB was pleased to host Blue Startups at its Malcolm Center, as part of it’s tour of the islands, providing this learning and networking opportunity for Maui small businesses.
Annette Lynch, Program Director, MEDB
Ted and Ann Anderson started Venture Physical Therapy (VPT) in 2008. They wanted to launch a program that improved island residents’ health while also building infrastructure to train therapists to bring the highest level of care to Maui and the state. Today, VPT has three locations on Maui and one on Lānaʻi. Knowing how hard it is to attract kamaʻāina back to the islands after they complete college on the continent, the Andersons also became interested in launching an internship to support Maui County’s healthcare workforce needs.
“We’ve been developing our internship program for over 15 years,” Ted explained. “We include internships for high school students to introduce them to healthcare fields, plus, we also offer undergraduate internships for students who need clinical observation hours when applying to physical therapy school. Additionally, internships are offered for graduate students in the final rounds of their doctoral programs.”
Thanks to their commitment to local healthcare workforce development, this year the Andersons hired two new local physical-therapy graduates who both went through their VPT internship program. VPT’s winter 2026 cohort of interns will also be their largest locally-connected group ever. Three of the seven interns have a direct connections to Maui, and the others also grew up in the islands.
“We try to give interns a wide breadth of what healthcare practice and our business model look like throughout the islands,” Ted said. “When interns excel, we create opportunities for them to spend time learning specialties in our other Maui clinics. We also send them to other islands to see how we practice in more rural communities. We believe creating a well-rounded experience, where someone can truly see how they can develop a career on Maui and in Hawai’i, is essential for long-term economic development.”
Ted added, “I’ve been working with Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) through the Maui County Healthcare Partnership (MCHP), and I’ll be interacting with MEDB’s STEMworks internship program this coming summer. We share many of the same values and perspectives on internships, specifically that interns should be given real, meaningful tasks focused on helping them understand and build a career, while also learning how to train and collaborate with colleagues.” VPT is one of 35 healthcare organizations and 20 community organizations that commit to regular MCHP discussions and coordinated action, focused on priority areas like growing our own healthcare workforce here in Maui Nui.
Along with MEDB, we believe that investing in students is one of the best ways to strengthen long-term health and wellness in our community.
Ted Anderson, PT, DPT, Owner and Physical Therapist, Venture Physical Therapy
Maui resident and Sweet on Maui owner Jessica Kapoor specializes in creating locally-sourced custom cakes and a variety of desserts and chocolates. She brings a diverse background in marketing management and culinary arts to her woman-owned small business, including marketing and brand management work experience in Maui’s hospitality sector. She also sings with Maui Choral Arts, dances hula, and takes pottery lessons, all of which she feels inspires her business.
“My background helped in my transition to the culinary arts,” Kapoor explained. “I was in the UH Maui College Culinary Arts and Baking program and had teachers and mentors who helped, encouraged, and mentored me on my journey to opening a business.” She added, “I am so grateful to the Maui wedding and baking community. Together, they have helped me build a network of clients and carve a place for myself in the business.”
Now, Kapoor works out of her own commercial kitchen in Kahului and has become well-known for her Mother’s Day version of the popular Queen Emma Cake, which she calls The Queen’s Cake. “The Queen’s Cake has seven layers of guava, lilikoʻi, and coconut for all the queens in your life! It’s an all-time local favorite with its Italian meringue buttercream and local edible flowers.”
Kapoor’s team cares deeply about crafting the perfect cake for any occasion. They serve clients looking to add a touch of elegance and sweetness to gatherings and celebrations. “Whether looking for a classic cake or one that reflects the unique nature of the Hawaiian Islands, we provide the perfect recipe,” Kapoor noted. She has also expanded the bakery’s offerings to include vegan and gluten free options. “Our team works to incorporate the colors, style, and taste needed to turn a special day into a masterpiece. We also offer brownies and delicious muffins made fresh using locally sourced ingredients in the Maui Kuʻia Estate Chocolate Factory in Lahaina. Stop by to try some!”
Being in a small community on Maui, I think it’s important that we support each other. People in the industry have been present for me both professionally and personally, and that has meant a lot to me. We are a hui, all trying to help each other, with aloha and cake!
Jessica Kapoor, Owner and Baker, Sweet on Maui
Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) recent quarterly Maui TechOhana presentation featured Mary Anderson, president and owner of Lāhainā Brewing Company. TechOhana meetings provide opportunities for Maui County entrepreneurs and small business owners to network and learn tips and strategies that can be applied to their own business endeavors.
Until recently, Anderson’s company was doing business as Koholā Brewing, but she has changed strategy. She explained, “To honor sense of place, we will now be doing all business under Lāhainā Brewing Company.” Before Koholā, Anderson had over 20 years of experience in the technology sector, working in product strategy and marketing. She sits on the board of directors of private tech companies, including Soundskrit and Ora Graphene, and is also a board member for Maui United Way.
Anderson shared her story of growth and rebuilding since the Lahaina wildfires destroyed the brewery in 2023. “We were a small craft brewery, with award-winning local craft beer, situated in the heart of Lahaina,” she reminisced. “Losing our brewery meant we lost both our production facility and taproom. We then reached out to Kona Brewing on the Big Island, and with their amazing partnership, all the pieces fell into place.” Anderson continued, “We reopened a new taproom and restaurant in Wailea and a taproom located in Kulamalu Town Center in Pukalani. We also continue to seek out new partnerships, including with Merriman’s restaurants, to expand our reach and product offerings.”
Anderson’s advice for entrepreneurs is, “Define yourself, what success means to you, and have a great team to work with.” She spoke not only about grit, resilience, and her business strategy, but also about the importance of community. “Be a leader with aloha,” she added. “Find a nonprofit to contribute to, form connections and partnerships, and work together for betterment. Commitment to the community is a huge part of what has made Lāhainā Brewing successful.”
Attendee Mel Lozano with Ahimsa Sanctuary Farm said, “Anderson gave valuable insights about collaboration. I appreciate TechOhana meetings and how community-focused and educational they are.” Data analyst Matthew Rosenbalm agreed, saying, “As a young entrepreneur, I also appreciated Anderson’s business strategies. She encouraged me to always keep trying. TechOhana meetings are great for marketing advice and networking. Thanks, MEDB, for events that help us succeed.” For more information about past and upcoming Maui TechOhana events, visit https://www.medb.org/techohana/.
We will support anything as long as we are solving local problems. Together, we can actually make a difference in our communities.
-Mary Anderson, President and Owner, Lāhainā Brewing Company
Makahiki, the ancient Hawaiian season known as the Hawaiian New Year, is a four-lunar-month period from October or November to February or March, depending on the year. The rising of Makaliʻi (the constellation also known as the Pleiades) at sunset marks the beginning of Makahiki, and the season is recognized as a time of harmony, plenty, relaxation, and Hawaiian-style games. It is also a time to honor the Hawaiian god Lono, who represents fertility, agriculture, and peace. Native Hawaiians have a unique relationship with land and culture deeply rooted in the concept of kuleana, a responsibility and privilege to care for and protect the land and the community to which they belong.
At family-run Nohoʻana Farm, situated on two acres of kuleana land (traditional ahupuaʻa management), Makahiki gratitude is observed as a way of life. “It is a time of reflection to hone our farming practice and to honor the bounty of what the ‘āina offers us,” said Hōkūao Pellegrino, owner and manager of Nohoʻana Farm. “Knowing the ‘āina provides all year long, we need to have a level of consciousness that shows gratitude for what Lono gives to us. Makahiki is about sharing and bringing the community together both for education and for fun events.”
Vincent Mina, co-owner of Kahanu ‘Āina Greens, also walks the talk and has boldly stepped into numerous leadership roles that allow him to teach residents how to transform food systems in Hawaiʻi. His longtime mission has been to promote life-nurturing practices for good health through education and outreach.
“Makahiki, a new year to share love, is a time of appreciation and gratefulness,” Mina reflected. “My vision is to bring the latest scientific research and Hawaiian regenerative agriculture practices for wellness and soil cultivation to the Maui farming community, and to raise awareness of the relationship between our bodies and the soil from which our food is grown.”
Today, the spirit of Makahiki is also celebrated through yearly events and traditions such as Festivals of Aloha. One of the next events, Wailuku First Friday on November 7 from 6pm to 9pm, will usher in a vibrant evening dedicated to community, culture, and connection to the land.
Wailuku First Friday will highlight the richness of Maui-made and Maui-grown offerings directly to the local ‘ohana.
Vincent Mina, Farmer and Co-owner, Kahanu ‘Āina Greens
Kula Country Farms, a family-run upcountry business on Kula Highway, is a favorite stop for both locals and tourists alike. Chauncey Monden, a graduate from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a fourth-generation farmer, took over the family farm in 1998 when his father retired. His wife Teena runs their open-air farm stand that is stocked with their home-grown strawberries, onions, assorted vegetables, pumpkins, fresh-baked good, and more. Most recently, their daughter Tess opened a smoothie, tea, and coffee truck next to the farm stand.
“We started the stand because we wanted to promote local agriculture and to sell directly to customers,” Chauncey said. “Our specialty crops like year-round strawberries give us that opportunity. One of the benefits of being a farmer is the gratification you feel when you produce a consistent product that people keep coming back for.”
Teena’s creativity keeps the stand continually growing, which helps keep the farm going. “Twice a year, usually April and October, the farm allows visitors to pick their own fresh strawberries,” Teena noted. “During the fall, the farm opens its now-famous pumpkin patch to literally thousands of residents looking for fresh gourds or pumpkins for Halloween. All ages love it!”
The stand’s product line is always increasing, and the Mondens are exploring new ways to hold events at the farm. “Everything is fresh from our fields, and some homegrown items are from our neighbors,” Teena added. “On the third Saturday of each month, Kula Country Farms hosts a popular craft fair with locally made items. In addition, we can host weddings and special events.”
Naturally, there are always challenges. The Mondens shared that the market has changed, finding employees has become more challenging, and supplies needed for farming are more expensive than ever. Even the weather has altered over time. “Still, we have a deep commitment to continue our farming legacy and to support agriculture on Maui.”
Chauncey and Teena have hosted students as part of the STEMworks Agriculture Business and Technology Internship Program to help foster the next generation of farmers. “We believe that the internship experience provides valuable work-based learning for students who not only gain technical skills but also have the chance to explore career pathways in different ag fields,” they said. “The students learn about hard work, patience, and most importantly, gratefulness.”
Our intent is to grow fresh, flavorful produce in Maui soil, and set the stage for economic sustainability.
Chauncey and Teena Monden, Kula Country Farms
Whether people are just getting started in business or looking to scale up, the recent Entrepreneur Bootcamp was designed to equip them with the tools, strategies, and connections needed to succeed. Presented by the UH Maui College Maui Food Innovation Center and the YWCA Maui Women’s Business Center in partnership with agencies, organizations, and sponsors from across Hawaiʻi, the all-day event included Maui residents of all ages and levels of business experience, including a 13-year-old entrepreneur. The event was free for participants, including breakfast, lunch, and a pau hana mixer. Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) sponsored the travel of Maui County’s islands in the spirit of collaboration.
“It’s a valuable and important collaboration between the non-profits of Maui,” said Annette Lynch, Director of Communications for MEDB who attended the bootcamp and consulted with attendees. “It’s fantastic to come together in one place so that small business owners and entrepreneurs know that there are resources and support to help them thrive on Maui. They don’t have to do it alone.”
“This year’s theme, Kūlia I Ka Nuʻu (Rising to the Summit), calls us to pursue excellence with determination and resilience,” said Angela Gannon, the event coordinator for the bootcamp. “It reminds us that the entrepreneurial path, like the climb to a mountain peak, requires vision, effort, and perseverance.”
Stacey Moniz, Director of the Maui Women’s Business Center, YWCA, noted, “The goals of this bootcamp are simple yet powerful: to meet the real needs of our local entrepreneurs, to deliver training and mentorship that build lasting business success, and to expand access across Maui Nui.”
Andra Tejero-Gaspar, business advisor from the Veterans Business Outreach Center, one of the bootcamp resource partners, shared, “We give assistance to those who are transitioning out of the military and to veterans who want to further their education, join the workforce, and become entrepreneurs. We do one-on-one consultations, provide resources, and connect veterans with business owners. All those in the military community are welcome.”
Bootcamp participant Monika Jost added, “This is a fabulous event! I found so many connections, ideas, and people willing to help me grow my business. I gained insights on business formation, planning, funding, marketing, accounting, and ecommerce, plus priceless networking.”
The keynote speakers, workshop presenters, and success story panelists provided a day of collaboration and growth while celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship together.
McKenna Lickle, Program Manager, Maui Food Innovation Center, UHMC
