Hawaii visitors and residents alike will be able to shop for unique made-in-Hawaii products at “House of Mana Up,” a special extended pop-up store in the Royal Hawaiian Center.
Founded in 2017, Mana Up hosts a 12-week intensive accelerator program for Hawaii manufacturers, helping local entrepreneurs tackle production challenges, develop executive leadership, and uncover high-impact sales opportunities — like a shop in the heart of Waikīkī.
“This project has been in the works for quite some time, and we’re extremely proud to support the efforts of Mana Up and spotlight the entrepreneurs of Hawaii,” said Royal Hawaiian Center cultural director Monte McComber. “With our new House of Mana Up pop-up, shoppers can now get one-of-a-kind products and gifts that represent local ingenuity and feature local ingredients in new and original ways.”
The store was established through a collaboration among Mana Up, YWCA Oahu, and the Community Engagement and Resources Group of Kamehameha Schools.
House of Mana Up will features dozens of local brands that showcase Hawaii’s blend of diverse cultures and its unique sense of place, starting with Mana Up’s portfolio of local products by innovative entrepreneurs. The store will curate a rotation of brands to provide shoppers with new experiences as they browse an array of products, including health and beauty, food and beverage, art and fashion, and specially designed gift sets.
In addition, House of Mana Up will host regular events and entrepreneur meet-ups for shoppers to learn about the stories, inspirations, and connections behind the local products developed in Hawaii.
“We want visitors to House of Mana Up to feel like they’ve just walked into a local home, filled with stories and products that capture the experiences they’ve had in Hawaii,” said Meli James, co-founder of Mana Up Hawaii. “Mahalo to Royal Hawaiian Center and Kamehameha Schools for investing and believing in our local talent and creating this opportunity for guests and locals to learn from our community and support local entrepreneurship.”
The shop will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, January 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The first 150 attendees will receive 2-hours of validated parking and shoppers will get a free Mana Up tote with purchases of $125 or more. Complimentary Hawaiian coffee will also be served at the shop’s Nitro Spot.
Through the partnership with Kamehameha Schools, House of Mana Up also offers internships to students in various disciplines, such as design, marketing, and entrepreneurship, to create career pathways and networking opportunities.
To learn more about Mana Up Hawaii, visit their website at manauphawaii.com.
For more information on the House of Mana Up, visit www.RoyalHawaiianCenter.com or call Helumoa Hale Guest Services at (808) 922-2299.
About Royal Hawaiian Center
Royal Hawaiian Center is the premier shopping, dining, entertainment, and cultural destination in Waikīkī, comprised of 110 shops and restaurants over three city-blocks of world-renowned Kalākaua Avenue. The Center stands proudly upon historic land known as Helumoa, once home to Hawaiian royalty. Hawaiian culture is celebrated every day at the Center with a variety of complimentary cultural lessons such as hula, lauhala weaving, lei-making, ʻukulele classes, and live entertainment featuring Hawaiian music and hula performances.
Royal Hawaiian Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and offers free validated parking for the first two hours with a minimum $10 purchase and only $2 per hour for the 3rd and 4th hours. Standard rates apply at $6 an hour thereafter. For more information, visit www.RoyalHawaiianCenter.com