Vendors Sought for Waimea Business Expo Aug. 2

The inaugural Waimea Business Expo will be held Friday, Aug. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Kanu o ka ʻĀina Charter School.

The school is located at 64-1043 Hi‘iaka St.

Co-sponsored by Kanu o ka ʻĀina, the Hawaii Small Business Development Center and the Entrepreneur’s Source, the event is an opportunity for local businesses to showcase their services and products.

Admission to the business expo is free. There is a $25 booth fee for businesses to showcase their companies.

In addition to networking, the expo will include four short workshops, each 45 minutes long, on business-related topics, including strategic planning and using social media.

At 9:15 a.m., two workshops will be offered. Hazel Beck, senior business consultant at the Hawaii Small Business Development Center will give a talk entitled “Is Entrepreneurship For You?” In the other, Laura Kinoshita, owner of Kinoshita Communications, will speak on “Social Media For Business.”

At 11:30 a.m., two more workshops will be offered: Kari Waldhous, principal of Entrepreneur’s Source, will present a workshop on “Strategic Planning for a Successful Business” and Liz Zagorodney, consultant from the company re: Sales & Marketing Inc. will give a talk on “Top 20 Business Apps.”

Kahanu Noa, college and career specialist with Kanu o ka ʻĀina Learning ‘Ohana said his organization is sponsoring the event in an effort to bring more entrepreneurial and business opportunities to Waimea.

“This is the first of its kind for Waimea,” Noa said.

“We held a workshop with Hawaii SBDC about a month ago on how to start a business in Hawaii.” Noting the strong turnout for that workshop, he said the group decided to go ahead with a business expo.

“We’re trying to bring more opportunities to the area and bring more exposure to local companies,” Noa said.

He pointed to the fact that companies in North Hawaii often have to travel to Kona or Hilo in order to participate in business events.

“There aren’t that many opportunities for small businesses in Waimea to let the public know about what they offer. We’re keeping it affordable at $25 for a booth fee.”

Noa added that more business events for the Waimea area are in the planning stages.

To register for a booth click here. For more information call Kahanu Noa at Kanu O Ka ʻĀina at (808) 890-2516, or Jackie at the Hawaii Small Business Development Center at (808) 327-3680.