Two local organizations have joined forces in a new retail partnership.
The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, a member-based nonprofit that aims to advance the cultural, economic and community development of Native Hawaiians, assumed operations of the Bishop Museum gift shop, Shop Pacifica, today, July 1.
With the move comes plans to refresh the space under a new name and showcase Hawai‘i-made and designed projects, the organizations said in a joint announcement Monday.
Dee Jay Mailer, president and CEO of Bishop Museum, said in the announcement that the partnership is a “natural extension” of the museum’s mission to “celebrate and perpetuate the rich history and culture of Hawai‘i and the Pacific.”
“CNHA’s deep community ties and commitment to Native Hawaiian businesses make them an ideal partner in strengthening how the museum reflects and uplifts our community.”
The announcement notes that under CNHA's leadership, the museum shop "will continue to serve visitors in carrying fond memories home while always being a space for cultural exchange and community engagement."
Planned experiences include product showcases, creative workshops and other events that "reflect the museum's role as a gathering place for learning and connection."
Kūhiō Lewis, CEO of CNHA, said in the announcement that, at its best, retail is a platform for "cultural connection and story telling."
“We’re honored to reimagine this space to highlight our local makers and create authentic experiences for both residents and visitors.”
In an emailed response to questions from Aloha State Daily, Lewis said that through its Kilohana division, the nonprofit has been "partnering with community organizations to expand opportunities for local businesses to access visitor-facing locations."
"By offering authentic, locally made and culturally inspired products, these efforts support the state and community's shared goal of building a more regenerative model of tourism," he continued. "CNHA also brings proven retail expertise through The Mākeke — formerly called Pop-up Mākeke — which has been a platform for elevating Hawai‘i-based entrepreneurs since its launch in 2020."
Lewis says the new venture will bring together products from The Mākeke and the recently acquired Nā Mea Hawai‘i.
The nonprofit announced in June that it had acquired the "cultural hub and marketplace" founded by Maile Meyer which aims to showcase the work of artists and crafters from Hawai‘i.
At that time, the organization said that as a part of CNHA, Nā Mea Hawai‘i would be "integrated into a larger suite of economic and entrepreneurial initiatives," including the KūHana Business Accelerator, The Mākeke, an online market place; and business development services.
"This is the first time Nā Mea Hawai‘i and The Mākeke will share a space together, allowing us to offer a richer mix of curated local products," Lewis said. "Like Nā Mea Hawai‘i, the store will also showcase makers and designers through special features and events."
According to Lewis, visitors can expect a curated mix of local fashion, accessories, snacks, memorabilia and more. The rebranding is in progress and a grand opening celebration is being planned for early August.
He expects the transition to be "seamless."
"It will take place overnight and continue to evolved in the coming months," Lewis told ASD.
Lewis said the shop will focus on and highlight locally made and designed products, including items created in collaboration with Bishop Museum that connect directly to exhibits and artifacts.
"We're always looking for the next great locally made product," he said.
As for vendors who previously were selling items at the museum, "CNHA will make a good faith effort to continue working with vendors who performed well at the museum and align with our mission and values," Lewis noted.
Businesses can apply to become vendors here.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
