Holiday Pop-Up: Creating Space for Indigenous Entrepreneurship

One wahine’s story shows what can grow through relationship. The market shows what becomes possible when fifteen businesses share space and no one stands alone.

At Kūkolu’s pop-up at Windward Mall, products from fifteen businesses owned by Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs were offered through a shared consignment marketplace. Incubator graduates and cohort members were represented alongside independent artisans and makers. A team of Native Hawaiian wahine operated the store day to day, carrying the values that shaped the participating businesses into every part of the customer experience. Among the vendors was Kaulumaika, Emily States’ art business. Sales generated through that shared space became part of her path toward buying her first home.

Among the 15 participating businesses, five were based on neighbor islands. The marketplace created an opportunity for these entrepreneurs to introduce their products to Oʻahu customers and expand beyond their home markets. Together, these results reflect growing customer demand and the value of creating accessible retail opportunities for Native Hawaiian and Indigenous-owned businesses.

This was Kūkolu’s second marketplace in two years, and both carry a fitting lineage. Windward Mall and SALT at Our Kakaʻako are located on lands stewarded by Kamehameha Schools, founded through the will of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Her legacy has supported the education and flourishing of Native Hawaiian keiki for generations. Twice now, spaces on ʻĀina Pauahi have held Native Hawaiian wahine entrepreneurs building their own expressions of Native Hawaiian-led abundance, each one making room for the next.

2nd Annual Waiwaolani Scholarship

In 2026, Kūkolu proudly served as the fiscal sponsor for the Waiwaolani Scholarship, a community-led initiative created to inspire Hawaiʻi's youth to deepen their connection to native Hawaiian plants and the importance of protecting Hawaiʻi's unique ecosystems.

The scholarship invited high school students across the state to combine creativity with environmental stewardship by submitting original photography of native plants alongside personal reflections on why caring for Hawaiʻi's natural resources matters. Through financial awards and storytelling, the program encouraged the next generation to see themselves as active stewards of the places they call home.

As fiscal sponsor, Kūkolu provided the administrative and financial infrastructure needed to launch the scholarship, helping transform a community vision into an opportunity that invests directly in Hawaiʻi's future leaders. By supporting initiatives like ʻImi Waiwaolani, Kūkolu extends its mission beyond entrepreneurship, strengthening pathways for education, cultural connection, and environmental stewardship.

In 2026, Kūkolu proudly served as the fiscal sponsor for the Waiwaolani Scholarship, a community-led initiative created to inspire Hawaiʻi's youth to deepen their connection to native Hawaiian plants and the importance of protecting Hawaiʻi's unique ecosystems.

The scholarship invited high school students across the state to combine creativity with environmental stewardship by submitting original photography of native plants alongside personal reflections on why caring for Hawaiʻi's natural resources matters. Through financial awards and storytelling, the program encouraged the next generation to see themselves as active stewards of the places they call home.

As fiscal sponsor, Kūkolu provided the administrative and financial infrastructure needed to launch the scholarship, helping transform a community vision into an opportunity that invests directly in Hawaiʻi's future leaders. By supporting initiatives like ʻImi Waiwaolani, Kūkolu extends its mission beyond entrepreneurship, strengthening pathways for education, cultural connection, and environmental stewardship.

Solomon Enos Community Giveback

Through Kūkolu's Indigenous Creatives program, Solomon Enos has strengthened the business foundation of his artistic practice, creating greater capacity to give back to the community.

Over the past year, he donated artwork, creative leadership, and pro bono services to organizations including Purple Maiʻa, Kaʻala Farm, and Capitol Modern, supporting cultural education and community initiatives across Hawaiʻi.

His journey demonstrates how investing in Indigenous artists creates a ripple effect, empowering them to reinvest their time, talent, and creativity into the communities they serve.

Building a Legacy Through Beauty

"I hope people love the products as much as they love the stories behind them."

- Kecia Littman, founder of Lei Wai

For years, Kecia Littman carried the vision of creating her own beauty brand. Although the idea began in 2016, it wasn't until joining Kūkolu's Indigenous Women's Incubator in 2023 that she gained the mentorship, strategic guidance, and community support needed to transform that vision into a viable business.

Throughout the program, Kecia refined her brand strategy, strengthened her business model, and developed the confidence to present her vision. Her work earned her Kūkolu's $2,500 Pitch Competition Award, followed by a Lālāwai microloan that provided additional capital to invest in product development and prepare for launch. Together, these resources helped bridge the gap between concept and company.

As she developed her brand, every decision remained deeply personal. The name Lei Wai honors her late mother, whose career in the beauty industry first inspired Kecia's passion for makeup. Creating the brand became a way to celebrate her mother's legacy while building one of her own.

After leaving Pat McGrath Labs in 2024, Kecia dedicated herself fully to developing products rooted in quality, sustainability, and thoughtful design. Her debut collection of nourishing lip oils features kukui nut and macadamia nut oils, with shades named after the women who have shaped her life. Lei Wai officially launched on Mother's Day 2026, an intentional tribute to the woman who inspired it all.

Today, Kecia is expanding the brand into the wellness and spa market while continuing to create products that celebrate Native Hawaiian and Polynesian representation in beauty. Her journey reflects Kūkolu's commitment to pairing culturally grounded business mentorship with access to capital, empowering Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs to transform meaningful ideas into thriving businesses.

Building Before the Leap

"I realized everything I had been building was preparing me for this jump and growth."

– Lauren Melendez, founder of Piko Therapy

When Lauren Melendez joined Kūkolu's Indigenous Women's Incubator, Piko Therapy was only a few months old. At the same time, she was earning her clinical licensure while working full-time. Like many early-stage entrepreneurs, she often questioned whether she was making meaningful progress toward the practice she envisioned.

Throughout her three years in Kūkolu, Lauren focused on strengthening the foundation of her business. She became credentialed with insurance providers, developed financial projections, established intake systems, and built the operational workflows needed to support long-term growth. While the progress wasn't always visible, every step was preparing her for the future.

In April 2026, following the loss of her mother-in-law and a desire to spend more time supporting families through life's most difficult moments, Lauren made the decision to dedicate herself fully to Piko Therapy. Within three weeks, her client caseload grew from seven to twenty-two weekly sessions, confirming that the years of preparation had created a strong foundation for growth.

Today, Lauren is preparing to welcome additional therapists to her practice, expanding access to culturally grounded mental health care for Hawaiʻi's families. Her story reflects the power of thoughtful preparation, intentional planning, and the confidence to take the next step when the time is right.

Growing Capacity to Steward ʻĀina

As the founder of Kāpuna Farms, Mikiʻala Puaʻa-Freitas has always been committed to restoring ʻāina and stewarding the natural resources of Waiheʻe Valley. Through Kūkolu, she found a strategic partner who helped transform that vision into sustainable growth.

Working alongside the Kūkolu leadership team, Mikiʻala strengthened her grant writing, refined funding strategies, and developed the organizational capacity to pursue larger opportunities. With Kūkolu's mentorship and grant support, she secured over a $100,000 in County of Maui funding to restore a historic ʻauwai irrigation system, expand her beekeeping operation, and provide education and mentorship for new beekeepers across Maui County. Kūkolu continues to support grant management and reporting, allowing Mikiʻala to focus on stewarding ‘āina while building for the future.

Today, Mikiʻala is growing beyond a one-person operation. She is building a team to restore more loʻi, increase local food production, expand community education, and strengthen long-term stewardship efforts throughout Waiheʻe Valley. Her ongoing partnership with Kūkolu has also extended into Kupa o Waiheʻe, where they continue collaborating to secure additional funding for large-scale ʻāina restoration initiatives.

Mikiʻala's story reflects Kūkolu's approach to economic development: pairing strategic mentorship with access to funding so Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs can build resilient organizations that create lasting benefits for their communities and ʻāina.

Building More Than Businesses: A Community That Gives Back

"Kūkolu didn't just help me build my business—it also gave me the confidence to believe owning a home was possible."

- Emily States, founder of Kaulumaika

When Emily States and Litea Maiava met through Kūkolu's Indigenous Women's Incubator, they had no idea they were beginning a friendship that would shape both of their journeys. United by shared values and a commitment to strengthening Native Hawaiian communities, their relationship quickly grew into one rooted in trust and mutual support.

As Emily's art business gained momentum through opportunities like Kūkolu's holiday pop-up markets, she built the financial foundation to pursue a longtime dream of homeownership. When the time came, she turned to Litea, a fellow cohort member and newly licensed Realtor®, for guidance. Together, they navigated the homebuying process, leading to Emily and her ʻohana purchasing their first home.

For Litea, the experience strengthened her mission to help Native Hawaiian families build generational wealth through homeownership. For Emily, it provided the confidence and support to take a step that once felt out of reach.

Their story reflects the ripple effect Kūkolu strives to create. By bringing Indigenous women entrepreneurs together, the organization cultivates relationships that continue long after the program ends. Participants become collaborators, mentors, clients, and lifelong champions of one another, creating opportunities that strengthen individual businesses, families, and communities.

Building With Intention: How Karlee Brown Built Trustworthy Cleaning Maui from the Ground Up

Karlee Brown was 19 years old, freshly moved out on her own, and quickly realizing that one part time job plus being a full time student just wasn't going to cut it. So she did what a lot of us would never even think to try. She started a cleaning company.

That was nine years ago. Today, Trustworthy Cleaning is a full blown commercial and janitorial operation on Maui, taking care of offices, private schools, and strip malls all over the island. Karlee will be the first to tell you it didn't start out looking anything like this.

"We were figuring it out as we went," she laughs, thinking back to where the business was before she joined Kūkolu's incubator three years ago. She knew how to work, and her small team knew how to work. The systems and structure came later, and Kūkolu is where that piece really clicked into place

Growing Into Something Bigger

Since joining Kūkolu, Karlee has watched her business transform. Her team has grown. Her client list has grown. She's shifted the business entirely toward commercial work, and she's now working toward becoming an 8(a) certified federal contractor, which would open up a whole new world of government contracts for Trustworthy Cleaning.

But ask Karlee what actually matters most to her about the growth, and it's not the numbers. It's who she gets to hire along the way.

She's built her team around young moms, single moms, and college aged workers looking for a way to make money while they figure out what's next. That's not an accident. It comes straight from her own story.

"I really wish somebody did that for me," she says. She remembers needing exactly that kind of flexibility back when she was starting out, and nobody offered it. So now she does.

Finding Pride in Her Own Story

Here's the part of Karlee's story that really stands out. For the first five years of running Trustworthy Cleaning, she downplayed it. Cleaning felt like a small thing to her, not something she led with when people asked what she did for work.

Joining Kūkolu changed that. Surrounded by other wāhine building their own businesses, Karlee started to see her company in a whole new light. She owns it outright. She built it from nothing. She's Native Hawaiian, she's a woman, and she runs a company that supports dozens of people in her community.

"My business is cool," she says now, and you can hear how much that sentence means to her.

The Mahalo Boxes

If you want to understand who Karlee is underneath all the growth and the certifications and the five year plan, look at what she did last Thanksgiving.

The federal government had just shut down, which meant a lot of families on Maui weren't getting paid right before the holidays. Karlee and a friend started asking themselves a simple question. What actually matters about Thanksgiving besides being together?

Their answer turned into something called Mahalo Boxes. Full turkey, pumpkin pie, all the fixings, delivered completely free to whoever needed one.

Karlee's plan was pretty simple too. Collect as many donations as she could, and cover whatever was left with her own business. She figured she'd end up footing most of the bill.

Instead, the community showed up. The only cost that landed on Trustworthy Cleaning was the turkeys themselves, around fifteen hundred dollars for over a hundred birds from Costco. Kūkolu stepped in to run the donation side, giving people a trusted place to give. Karlee's niece, who happened to be Little Miss Maui that year, brought even more attention to the effort.

By the time it was all said and done, Mahalo Boxes reached over 120 families. A few boxes went straight to foster homes. More support flowed through organizations like MEO and Women Helping Women.

Karlee's already planning round two for this November. Her goal this time is 200 families or more.

Her one piece of advice for anyone thinking about doing something similar? Find your turkey guy early, and line up somewhere with serious freezer space before you order them. Karlee found her answer in Makawao Hongwanji, who generously stepped up to store all the turkeys and made the whole thing possible.

Moving Forward With Intention

Ask Karlee what word keeps coming to mind lately, and she'll tell you without hesitating. Intention.

Every new hire, every new system, every next step for Trustworthy Cleaning is getting run through that filter now. If it doesn't have a clear purpose, it doesn't make the cut.

It's a fitting note for where Karlee is standing right now. Nine years into building something from scratch, three years into growing it with the support of her Kūkolu sisters, and just getting started on what comes next.