3 Hawai‘i Island businesses receive state grant to help grow operations

A state agency has awarded nearly $1 million to 26 local companies in an effort to help with expenses in fostering economic and employment growth throughout the islands.

The Hawai’i Technology Development Corporation offers grants through its Innovate Hawaiʻi’s Manufacturing Assistance Program, which provides capital, building infrastructure and developing talent to help in innovation and diversifying the state’s economy.

Seven companies were first-time grant recipients. Seventeen grants were awarded to Oʻahu companies, while Hawaiʻi Island, Maui and Kauaʻi each received three grants.

Big Island company recipients include: Hawaiian Ola Brewing Corporation, Laʻi LLC (dba Punaluʻu Bake Shop) and Hilo Fish Company, Inc., which was a first-time recipient.

“We were impressed by the quality of this year’s grant applications,” Wayne Inouye, center director of Innovate Hawai’i. “The grants will allow these companies to improve their operations, create more jobs, and further diversify our economic base. We are proud to be able to work with these companies in developing the state’s manufacturing sector.”

According to a press release from the corporation, grants cover up to 20% of the total company investment in the requested project, capped at $100,000. The companies themselves must fund the balance. The total investment in these 26 projects by the awardees amounted to more than $11 million.

First-time grant recipients were awarded to:

• Euram Inc (dba Hawaiian Paradise Coffee)
• Hawaii Sea Spirits LLC
• Hawaiian King Candies, LLC
• Hawaiian Sun Products Inc.
• Island Grown Foods, Inc. (dba Hawaii Food Products)
• Meadow Gold Dairies Hawaii LLC

The remaining 19 businesses are:

• Advanced Silicon Carbide Materials, LLC
• Aumakua Holdings Inc. (dba Maui Brewing Company)
• Ba-Le Inc. (dba La Tour Bakehouse)
• Diamond Bakery Company Limited
• Grass Shack Industries LLC (dba Mānoa Chocolate Hawaiʻi)
• HONBLUE
• Kauai Juice Co. LLC
• Kauai Kookie LLC
• Koloa Rum Company
• KYD, Inc.
• Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc.
• Maui Wine, Ltd.
• Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.
• Okuhara Foods Inc.
• Pacific Biodiesel Technologies, LLC
• Pacific Shipyards International, LLC
• The Patisserie Inc.

The Hawai’i Technology Development Corporation is attached to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Eighty-five businesses applied for the grant for the fiscal year of 2023. Grants are available to companies across the state and the application period for fiscal year 2024 will open later this year. For more information, go to www.htdc.org.