Business News

Eddie Flores Jr. is the founder of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, a successful plate lunch drive-in with franchises across the U.S. Flores Jr. shared his success story with HPR as he prepares for his book signing for "Franchising the American Dream."

Following an outcry from local farmers, Gov. Josh Green announced his intention to veto a labeling bill that would have affected māmaki sold in Hawaiʻi. As part of a broader, years-long trend to protect local farmers, consumers and the “Hawai'i-grown” label, state lawmakers introduced House Bill 496 and let it sail through this year’s legislative session.

Kauaʻi this week became the first of the major islands in Hawaiʻi to be fully fiber-enabled. It's part of Hawaiian Telcom's plan to make Hawaiʻi the first state in the U.S. to be fully fiber-enabled by the end of 2026. We get more on that story from Pacific Business News Editor-in-Chief Janis Magin.

The four-day initiative brings local businesses and stakeholders to Washington, D.C., to meet with federal officials and showcase the state's industries.

Hawaiʻi has one finalist in this year's James Beard Awards, known as the "Oscars of the food world." Dave Newman is one of five finalists from across the nation in a new category, Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.

Kaiser Permanente is expanding its operations on Maui by buying a property next door to its Wailuku clinic. But that purchase will have a direct impact on the Valley Isle's oldest continuously published newspaper. We get more on that story from Pacific Business News Editor-in-Chief Janis Magin.

An optometry office in Kailua offers the chance to turn beach plastic into eyewear. The Conversation’s DW Gibson spoke with Brian Daniel Moore from Out to See to find out more about its special line of frames.

Local sellers say tariffs aren’t the issue. What it really boils down to is plain old economics. There aren’t many Labubu in the state, but there’s certainly high demand. HPR's Cassie Ordonio has more.

A program that helps take companies that make products in Hawaiʻi to the next level in business is about to hit a big milestone. Mana Up will launch its 10th cohort next week with 10 Hawaiʻi companies looking to grow their businesses. We get more on that story from Pacific Business News Editor in Chief Janis Magin.

Chi Ian Chan spoke to The Conversation's Maddie Bender about launching what is being billed as New York’s first Hawaiʻi-style musubi store.