"Come to observe. Be present. Discover what Hawai‘i Creates."
That's the tagline on the website for Kilo Summit, a new installation that will launch this week at the 32nd annual Made in Hawai‘i Festival, bringing together a curated collection of local artists, designers, musicians, brands and storytellers.
"Founded by Zak Noyle and Kuhaʻo Zane, this event is built on the belief that collaboration is stronger than competition, creating opportunities for established creatives and emerging talent to share ideas, build relationships, and grow together," a recent email from MIHF noted.
Noyle, a surf photographer and founder of Eleven 17 Creative, which is now owned by aio, said he and Zane attended MIHF last year.
"The one thing we did love about everything was locals supporting locals, and small businesses and local businesses thriving," he recently told Aloha State Daily. "That's where we said, how do we rethink the experience, the moment and something that we bring to it that changes how people shop, how they buy and how they learn. Everything needs to be intentional and storytelling was our big one, so that's where we really started putting our brains together."
They approached the MIHF team with the idea for Kilo Summit, a collaboration and storytelling platform.
"We took some of our favorite brands and brands that reached out to us and what we did was we said, collaborate with someone else. It doesn't matter who," Noyle explains. "It needs to be locally owned and operated is our only caveat. If you can explain to us why, then that's good enough for us."
Noyle says that several of the participating brands never had plans to go to MIHF.
"So we're so excited to have them for the first time ever at Made in Hawai‘i within our space because of the collaboration platform we made, because they want to be a part of that. To me, it's not just around the collaboration, it's about building it," he says. "... It's our version of an ahupua‘a system. The larger brands are up here, feeding the smaller ones to help them grow and nourish because we all can work together. That's the thing that I want to show with this space and this platform — we can all work together and we can all thrive in here in Hawai‘i. It's hard enough as it is, siloed. [When we] work together, we can all thrive."
According to Noyle, a big piece of the experience is a locally created app that unlocks when you're on the Convention Center property. When it does, shoppers can start ordering the items from Kilo Summit and participants, then scope out the rest of the festival before picking up your order.
"When you're done and ready, come to our place and be present because you've already made your purchases, you've already secured all your merch from Kilo Summit."
Noyle says Kilo Summit is working with 44 businesses, or 22 collaborations. Each collaboration will offer a handful of items, but only roughly 100 to 150 of each item will be available only through the app and Kilo Summit brand.
He notes, too, that the Kilo Summit space has been custom-designed from the ground up by University of Hawai‘i architecture students under Zane and Keola Rapoza.
"The space and the design and the flow is going to be so intentional for people to go through," Noyle says. "We've thought a lot about this, because to me, it's the experience."
Kilo Summit also will host panel discussions, musicians and other activities throughout MIHF. (ICYMI: You can see the MIHF schedule here).
"I want people to come there and be educated," Noyle says. "You're going to be able to hear Sig Zane talk about his origin story of what he built and what he's doing. You're going to have all these other brand founders in these moments go on stage and talk about their stories. ... Yes, I want people to sell and do well, but I want people to walk away like 'Wow, I learned something and that was epic.' That's what we want — community and education at the forefront of what we do."
What does hope shoppers take away from the Kilo Summit experience?
"Art, intention and presence," Noyle says. "I hope they make a new discovery. I hope they find a new brand. I hope they create a new connection. We're hosting a dinner the night before Made in Hawai‘i opens and it's only for the brand founders. No cameras. What I want is everyone to be present and create and foster new connections with each other. I think that's the most important thing to show the community outward, that some of the largest brands and smallest here in Hawai‘i and creatives can work and thrive together."
This year, the largest-ever MIHF — set for Aug. 20 to 23 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center — will span more than 300,000 square feet across two floors and showcase more than 800 local artisans, makers and entrepreneurs.
You can buy tickets at madeinhawaiifestival.com. Find the brochure with maps and more information here.
You can learn about some of the changes planned for this year here.
MIHF is produced by the Hawai‘i Food Industry Association.
A record-breaking MIHF drew approximately 70,000 attendees and generated approximately $10 million in sales in 2024. The festival saw about 70,000 visitors over three days last year and vendors reported sales just under $10 million, Festival spokesperson Olena Heu previously told ASD.
Aloha State Daily is an ‘Ohana Sponsor for the Made in Hawai‘i Festival. Stop by our booth to say “aloha,” play some games, win prizes and learn more about the work we do. You'll find us at booth S-3009, located in the same row as the Mahi Pono entrance.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
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