Accelerating Puna’s Prosperity through Entrepreneurship
MEET AND GREET THE PUNA-PRENUERS
APRIL 13, 2024
REVIEW AND PHOTOS BY RAYDIANCE JOY GRACE
Sylvia Dolena, the hub’s project/operations manager and director,
eloquently gave the introduction to the Entrepreneur Hub Event
“My experience is in high-tech having managed several multi-million dollar businesses for Hewlett-Packard Enterprise. As a Global Program Manager, I implemented projects in Europe, Asia, and the US. These projects focused on new business strategies and were just like an entrepreneurial start-up. I was very fortunate to have had the education and global experience of a lifetime. My slogan is,
“I received a million-dollar education and experience in a Fortune 10 company and I am sharing it with you.”
Sylvia Dolena: “Through the County of Hawaii Waiwai Grant, I was able to design and implement the Entrepreneur Hub program. I am excited and pleased to share a short overview of our Entrepreneur Hub program and the participating entrepreneurs. Our program includes professional and business skills training, business modeling, business planning, and business start-up. Our goal is to launch 10 new businesses by the end of this June. The Entrepreneurial Hub’s purpose is to accelerate entrepreneurship. The back-to-back events of the volcanic eruption Puna’s economic recovery/sustainability through in 2018 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 devastated the Puna economy with many small businesses having to close with the loss of jobs.”
Kilauea Lava eruption of 2018!
There will be two more “Entrepreneurial Hub Events” at Puna Kai
Shopping Center, May 25th, and June 29th, 11-2pm, both on Saturdays, featuring the ten qualified entrepreneurs who presented on April 13. This event was successful according to the director of the Hub, Sylvia Dolena, because the Entrepreneur Hub met all the criteria of their grant: chose ten entrepreneurs, trained them, drafted their business plans, and publicly presented them to the community as an announcement of their businesses. Their next steps are to finalize their business plans and then launch their business by June 2024. For more information: Contact Sylvia Dolena at sylviadolena@gmail.com .
Vision-Mission-Impact-Goal of Puna Rising’s Entrepreneur Hub
 Goal: Entrepreneurs/farmers/small business owners are qualified and supported to increase business results including revenue; 10 businesses launched and/or re-launched within 12 months. Of the 30 applicants who applied, 10 were chosen based on specific qualities: their Purpose for starting their business, their Passion about their work, and their Persistence to overcome extreme challenges. | Vision: The economy of Puna is thriving and providing abundance for all the residents and local businesses. Mission: Develop and implement a virtual entrepreneurial hub for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners providing business planning. training, coaching, mentoring, and resources to support them through business launch or re-launch. Impact: By participants achieving greater business results, more jobs will be created, more spending will occur in the local economy and residents will be served locally. Businesses will develop the skills to create multiple streams of income, potentially becoming resilient to various economic and market disruptions. |
For more information click on link Puna Rising Entrepreneur Hub
The following entrepreneurs presented their businesses on April 13th Meet the Puna-Preneurs Event at Puna Kai Shopping Center:
“Cosmo” Cassandra Lidin, M.Ac., L.Ac. of Celestial Acupuncture & East Asian Medicine, provides the highest quality individualized holistic care. Our team treats a myriad of emotional and physical disorders that allow us to provide patients with a sense of ease and total well-being through acupuncture, manual therapy, massage, and energetic techniques while incorporating lifestyle and diet support, sensory therapies, herbal recommendations, and supplements. We offer educational opportunities through classes and workshops to support wellness in our community. Celestial Acupuncture Center looks forward to serving your needs.
Call Cosmo at 808 900-3654
Stefano Quarta founded caapi Hawai’i, a botanical company that supports the use of non-psychoactive plant medicine for cognitive function. These products offer an opportunity for you to work with plant tools that empower you to bring vitality and awareness to your life and contributions. The source is Caapi, an ancient master nootropic known for supporting mood, cognitive function and rejuvenation. All of our vine is grown on Big Island, where we are the first to 3rd party lab test our extract to provide you routine, reliable rejuvenative experiences. For more information contact:
808-987-4487
The Caapi Vine, an ancient master nootropic known for supporting mood, rejuvenation, and cognitive function.
Keli Semelsberger, director of Big Island Comedy Theater with participants demonstrating how her improv classes work.
Keli Semelsberger gave a dynamic presentation using several volunteers from the audience. She offers classes, shows, and team-building workshops for organizations which include improvisational skills to create a performance theater. These workshops help with collaboration, trust, quick and creative decision making as well as public speaking and presentation skills. Her next workshop will be at Kalani in the Blue Moon room on May 25th from 2-4 pm $15, Show 6-7:30 pm $15 or $25 for both. For information,
Call Keli at 704-301-7011
bigislandcomedytheater.net
Various Greens that Gaia Culture Sanctuaries grow
Alejandro Larios founder of Gaia Culture Sanctuaries has a dream to start an educational center in the next 18 months to benefit ourselves and future generations. By implementing hydroponic systems which are soil efficient and use up to 90% less water, we can provide food year-round. Also the spread of “rat-lung disease” is prevented as no one gets infected using these “soilless” growing methods.(A soilless medium is any sterile medium for growing plants that doesn’t involve soil.) He currently is in the process of formulating an educational curriculum to implement these solutions for food security and sustainability on the Big Island. Alejandro is looking for financial support and collaborators to get this dream of sustainability moving. For more information:
Call Alejandro Larios
559-645-9137
Taura Powers, co-owner of Cosmic Powers with Perfect Purple Picker
Jim Powers, co-owner and the inventor of the Perfect Purple Picker-P3 said, “Discover the future of fruit picking: the Perfect Purple Picker. Unlike traditional tools that damage and waste fruit, our innovative, recyclable, silicone rubber design gently twists fruit from branches, ensuring a flawless harvest every time. Ideal for those with tall fruit trees seeking to maximize yield and minimize waste, our tool guarantees a more productive, satisfying picking experience. Plus, with our Lifetime Happiness Buy Back Guarantee, your satisfaction is assured for life. Choose the Perfect Purple Picker for a harvest that honors your hard work and the bounty of your trees.”
Every Sunday Jim and Taura are in the purple booth at the Maku’u Farmers Market. They would love to meet you to show their picker!
Call Jim and Taura Powers 541-829-2114
Shalaye Newman founder of Elven Expresso
With Elven Espresso we know you are short on time, and short on caffeine. Who isn’t?! We aim to offer a delicious cup of coffee, sourced locally, and organically to help you through your busy days! Let our espresso elves help your days be a little more magical, and a little more fun! Our delicious coffee drinks are magical and ecologically sustainable. You get both in one cup! We will also be mobile and will service many convenient locations to get you on your way and into your day.
Contact: shalayebeatte@gmail.com call 808 796-0016
Steven Kaiawa Olono Manner website developer and designer and social media management olonowebsolutions.com
Steven Kaiawa Olono Manner was raised in Puna. He is an entrepreneur and educator with a deep passion for fostering community resilience. “My journey has led me to the Entrepreneur Hub provided by Puna Rising’s Entrepreneur Hub Director, Sylvia Dolena, where I’m honing my business skills and honing my community capacity.”
Steven added: “This experience in the Entrepreneur Hub has been invaluable as I prepare to transition from Assistant Director to Executive Director of Puna Rising. Puna Rising plays a strong supporting role in our community by providing invaluable community resources.”
“My background is rooted in a deep connection to my Hawaiian heritage. Growing up, my family instilled in me the values of Aloha ʻĀina and Kuleana, guiding me to care for our land and community. After graduating from the Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science in Pahoa, I immersed myself in the world of technology, working as a STEM program assistant. This experience revealed to me the vast gap in tech literacy within our community, inspiring me to found my own AI Web Development company, Olono Web Solutions and through this venture, I aim to bridge the digital divide and empower businesses to thrive online while building community capacity.”
The best way to reach Steven Kaiawa Olono Manner is:
Eric Poczik, the Founder, Detox Coach, and Personal Trainer of
Three Phase Detox.
Eric believes in the transformative power of the body’s natural detoxifying process through a comprehensive approach that encompasses diet, exercise, and healthy habits. These three phases start with diet by properly eliminating toxins through 3 main food groups. fiber, proteins, and healthy fats. Phase 2 is exercise, when you exercise, your heart rate increases, promoting better blood flow throughout the body. Phase 3 is to imprint these habits within our everyday lives as this provides structure, consistency, and support for your body’s natural detoxification processes. Also, we offer a Whitening Remineralizing Toothpowder. Finally, we offer a weekly beginners calisthenics class at the Sea View Lawn every Saturday starting on June 1st at 11 am; there is no charge for this class although we do accept donations. Our mission is to provide the community with the tools and resources they need to achieve optimal health and vitality. The best way to reach Eric is by phone:
801-317-9862
Ericpoczik@threephasedetox.com
Marina Grace Monarrez, founder of Marina’s Konscious Kitchen
Her dream is to successfully provide the community with delicious, healthy, homemade, and organic cuisine. She is inspired to make food that people receive sustenance as well as pleasure. She brings a grandma’s vibe to her food, which is flavorful, wholesome, and revitalizing to the soul. Marina offers ready-made food sold at Kalani and from her house. She makes a variety of food such as homemade sourdough bread, cabbage kraut, stews, soups, stir fry and so much more. She will be starting a PMA (Private Membership Association) on her property to have a small vending spot a couple of times a week. She is also looking for an investor for a 4WD truck and super affordable food trailer to sell her yummy homemade food anywhere on the island.
Marina offers organic veggie frittatas and her beloved rosemary potatoes
Her larger dream is a location in Seaview where many chefs are part of a collective cafe that can service the community with amazing quality food. You can find her soul food by reaching her: at
Facebook Marina Grace, Telegram, or IG Marinadelmagicdelundo to pick up in Seaview. On social media she advertises her current offerings. This week she has veggie frittatas and rosemary potatoes.
Call Marina at 808 333-1763
Mark McClintick founder and director of Aloha Garden of Peace
“Aloha! The purpose of the Aloha Garden of Peace is to be a demonstration site providing experiential learning for growing, harvesting, preserving, and preparing food for families and communities. The mission of the Aloha Garden of Peace is to sustainably feed ourselves and others; sell or give away food, seeds, plants, and trees; and hold educational workshops to promote a dialogue about the importance of everyone growing food. Our vision for the Aloha Garden of Peace is that we are letting the light of sustainability shine bright; everyone is growing food, sharing with their neighbors of their abundance, and no longer relying on imported grocery store food, especially for fresh produce and anything that can be grown or made locally. Feel free to contact us if you are interested in a tour or participating in a workday.”
Mamonalu (Mark) McClintick
808-365-4279
Rachel McClintick
808-365-3385
rachelannamcclintick@gmail.com
Audience attending the Entrepreneur Hub Program
The next exciting focus is the Youth Mentorship Program, offered by Puna Rising’s Entrepreneur Hub. Students between the ages of 15 to19, selected from the local high schools in Puna, will learn business and communication skills to become entrepreneurs in a three-month program. For more information on how to apply and participate in this fantastic opportunity, click on the Youth Mentorship Program – link.
Robert Golden, Executive Director of Puna Rising, gave the closing remarks.
“This is just the beginning. We want to create Puna Ola, a community resource center, a physical place that brings people together. Imagine going into a building that radiates the energy of community support, that we are here to uplift you. We are all on a learning journey together.
Thank you for coming and for being our partner!”
Puna Rising wants to network, connect, and collaborate with all of our Puna neighbors and businesses. Interested in connecting with us? Contact us at punarising.com/contact
