Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 11, 1 November 2015 — Turn your idea into profits [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Turn your idea into profits

Hi'ilei Aloha is growing Native Hawaiian businesses with the help ofan SBAgrant

By Francine Kananionapua Murray

Do you have a hobby or an idea for a product that you would like to turn into a small business? Or do you have a small business that could use a little boost? Hi'ilei Aloha could help you make your dreams a reality with its new entrepreneurship program. Hi'ilei Aloha was recently awarded a Entrepreneurship grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration for entrepreneur training with an innovative threeprong approach. Those who take advantage of the free program get practical, hands-on help that would otherwise cost a business hundreds

or thousands of dollars. The first prong is an entrepreneurship course where participants gain the skills and knowledge to

start up a business. This course includes how to write and present a business plan, what resources are needed during the first year in business and how to effectively price a product to make a profit. The entrepreneurship course could help budding small businesses heeome more successful by offering tips on how to manage finances and successfully market a business. Second is counseling. "Based on where a business is or what their goals or priorities are, then we'll advise them," says Mona Bernardino, Chief Operating Officer of Hi'ilei Aloha. "The technical assistance and counseling also includes, if they want, assistance in setting up a website or with branding. Perhaps they don't have a logo, or they don't have a slogan, or don't have a way to visually show their products. They need branding. The grant

includes us hiring someone to help with branding." The third part teaches sales and marketing. "It depends on the product," said Bernardino. "If their product is a food or an agricultural thing or a hand-crafted thing that farmers' markets allow to be there, the grant will allow for us to buy them spaces at farmers' markets." In

2016, Hi'ilei could also buy booth space for participants of their entrepreneur program at the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs convention, the annual Native Hawaiian Convention and the Food and New Products Show at the Neil Blaisdell Center. SEE HI'ILEI ALOHA "II PAGE 9

Entrepreneurship Course Oct.-Nov. 2015 Nā Lama Kukui 560 N. Nimitz Highway Still taking applicants EveryTues. & Thurs. 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Feb.-March 2016 Kapolei June-July 2016 Waimānalo Cost: $300 (Refundable upon completion and full participation) To register email: jenniferc@ hiilei.org orcall 594-8990, ext. 1013.

HO'OKAHUAWAIWAI v www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY r NATIVE HAWAMAN >» NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS

i!.' The U.S. Small Business Administration awarded Hi'ilei Aloha a one hundred thousand dollar grant to assist with entrepreneur training. Pictured left to right: Capacity-Building Manager Peter Hanohano, Executive Assistant Jennifer Chiwa, Chief Operating Officer Mona Bernardino, Accountant, Corinne Fukushima and Capacity-Building Manager Nalani Takushi. - Photo: Fmncine Murray

Hi'ilei plans to be there to support participants long after the classwork is over by introducing and connecting them with resources in the Hawaiian community like civic clubs marketing opportunities, the Native Hawaiian Organization Association or the Hawai'i PTAC program, where people ean learn to qualify for federal contracts.

The entrepreneurship program has an up front cost of $300, whieh will be fully refunded if all the classes are attended and the assignments are done. The inihal payment is to show that participants are committed. The first phase of the program is very similar to the entrepreneur class that OHA used to fund at Kapi'olani Community College with instructor Julie Percell, who will be also teaching the Hi'ilei class. Hi'ilei Aloha LLC is a nonprofit subsidiary of the Office of Hawai-

ian Affairs. While classes in Honolulu started in October, Bernardino encourages those interested to enroll, as Hi'ilei Aloha continues to accept new participants. Meanwhile, classes are scheduled for Kapolei and Waimānalo next year. "We are thinking in year three we will take it to the neighbor islands," anticipates Bernardino. If the first year of the program is successful the SBA grant ean be renewed for two more years. ■

HI'ILEI AL0HA

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