The weekend of shopping local is getting bigger.
While the 32nd annual Made in Hawai‘i Festival is underway at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, across town, the Best of Hawai‘i Mākeke returns to the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition hall today through Aug. 23. Presented by Hawai‘i's Finest, the mākeke brings together more than 300 local businesses.
According to a recent announcement from the Native Hawaiian-owned lifestyle and apparel company, the market offers "an accessible platform for emerging entrepreneurs and established brands alike."
"Many participating businesses are home-based and have built their business through social media, online sales or at community pop-up events, and do not yet have traditional storefronts or widespread retail distribution," the announcement notes.
“I know firsthand how hard it is to build a business in Hawaiʻi. We started small, worked hard, learned plenty lessons along the way and just kept going,” Paulele Alcon, owner and founder of Hawai‘i's Finest, said in the announcement. “Now we’re in a position to help open doors for other local entrepreneurs who are trying to make it too. This mākeke is our way of giving back, giving them a place to get noticed, connect with customers and grow, while creating a fun, affordable weekend our local families can enjoy.”
Hawai‘i's Finest got its start as a small T-shirt business on Molokai in 2009; today, the brand has eight retail locations across Hawai‘i and Las Vegas, and has expanded into concerts, collaborations and major community events.
With the mākeke, Alcon told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions that the company is trying to elevate local businesses and entrepreneurs.
"We have been blessed with a platform and the ability to do amazing things, and we believe that in order to keep the locals local and home, we must buy local, support local, promote local and be together."
When asked about the expected turnout this weekend, Alcon says, "The buzz is out there. This is the biggest shopping weekend of the year — two massive events with the purpose to service our people! We are excited."
"Our goal is to provide Hawai‘i with a place to flourish and with the Best of Hawai‘i we have done that — to get eyes on our locals in order to support our locals. "
Best of Hawai‘i Mākeke is open until 6 p.m. today, Friday, Aug. 21; from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22; and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23. Admission is free and on-site parking is available for $8 per day.
Special VIP Experience tickets are available for purchase that includes early VIP shopping hours from 9 a.m., an exclusive HI Finest Momona Bag, access to the HIFI VIP Lounge, and special offers from 150 vendors. Cost is $70 presale per day and can be found online at Hifinest.com or Ticketmaster.com.
More information and a list of vendors can be found here.
Meanwhile, a separately ticketed, all-ages Best of Hawai‘i's Finest Music Festival will be held at the Blaisdell Area on Saturday, with a lineup that includes High Watah, Ooklah the Moc, Three Plus, Johnny Suite, Likkle Jordee, Small Axe, Kapu System, Mauloa Music and Miah Music.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and music starts at 6:30 p.m. Costs start at $20, not including fees.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
