Mobile poi mill wins $10,000 in business plan contest

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COURTESY CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY
courtesy chaminade university Hi'ilei Aloha LLC won the $10,000 top prize in Chaminade University's Hogan/American Savings Bank Nonprofit Business Plan Competition. With the award are Dr. Peter Hanohano, Mona Bernardino, Gigi Cairel and Lena Racimo.

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A business plan seeking to increase the value and broaden the distribution of freshly made poi was named the $10,000 grand prize winner at the Hogan/American Savings Bank Nonprofit Business Plan Competition at Chaminade University.

Hi‘ilei Aloha LLC, based in Honolulu, plans to develop a mobile certified kitchen and poi mill that would travel to farms and convert taro into poi. The intention is to help taro farmers become self-sustaining and help improve prospects for the long-term viability of their craft, while also increasing local food production.

The award presentation was one of five made as part of Wednesday’s 10th graduation and induction of students from and into the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program at Chaminade.

For the business plan competition, five winners were selected from among 32 entries.

HOPE Services Hawaii was awarded $6,000 for its "Malama Our Kupuna" recycled housing project, planned in partnership with Hawaii County, the University of Hawaii, the Diocese of Honolulu, Sacred Heart and other parishes on Hawaii island. The plan would have 19 long-vacant housing units relocated and converted to low-income supportive housing for seniors, while a 20th unit would become a community center.

Honolulu-based Kanu Hawaii’s "Engage Donors" project, which won $4,000, would launch a platform for small- to medium-sized causes to enable non-tech-savvy groups to commence online fundraising that would engage donors.

The Waikiki Health Center’s Next Step job training janitorial school, designed for residents of the Next Step shelter, would teach skills and provide on-the-job training. The program was awarded $2,000.

Full Life Hawaii in Hilo proposed a previously nonexistent day program for adults with autism spectrum disorder and won $1,000 as well as 80 hours of free consulting services from public relations and marketing firm Olomana Loomis-ISC.

The remaining three finalists — Business Law Corps, BizGym Foundation and the United Cerebral Palsy Association and its partners — were awarded $1,000 each.

The entrepreneurship program is funded by the Hogan Family Foundation, established by the founders of Pleasant Holidays, formerly known as Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays.