Small Business Development Center - Hilo

Running a food business comes with more than great recipes. You also need to understand the rules that help keep your customers safe and your business prepared.

Join us for The Secret Sauce: Navigating Food Safety & Rules and learn key food safety regulations, sanitation practices, common compliance mistakes to avoid, and practical tips from decades of real world experience.

This online session is perfect for food entrepreneurs, vendors, and anyone working with food.

What is one food safety question you wish someone explained before starting?

Register here:
https://clients.hisbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=5460008

Looking to start or grow your business, but unsure how to secure funding?

Join us for a free workshop designed to help you understand your financing options and take the next step with confidence.

You will learn about credit factors, the loan application process, SBA loan programs, and how to build a strong business plan. There will also be an interactive Q&A session with business bankers.

Seats are limited, so be sure to register in advance.

Register now at www.hisbdc.org

Growing a business is one thing.
Growing it faster than the average? That’s different.

SBDC clients are seeing more than 2X faster sales growth compared to the average U.S. business.

Strategy. Guidance. Real results.

This is what happens when you stop guessing—and start building with intention.

$5.53 BILLION.

That’s the level of impact America’s SBDC is making—helping small businesses access capital, grow stronger, and scale smarter.

Behind every dollar is a business owner who took a risk… and had the right support to win.

If you’re building something, you don’t have to do it alone.

Join us for an informative session on financing opportunities for small businesses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Hawaiʻi District Office and the Small Business Development Center are bringing together statewide lenders and training partners to help business owners learn about available funding options.

Attendees will hear directly from USDA, DBEDT, and local CDC lending partners about loans, grants, and financing programs designed to support small business growth.

- March 17, 2026
- 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo – West Kawili Street, Campus Center Room #301

Free to attend!

Register here:
https://go.hawaii.edu/twD

For more information, contact SBDC at 808-933-0776.

Big Island community — this one’s for you.

The Hawaiʻi Island AI Summit is happening Thursday, March 12, 2026 at the Arc of Hilo!

🕚 11AM–4PM Summit
🌺 4PM–6PM Pau Hana
🍽 Lunch included

Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, educator, small business owner, or decision-maker, this event is built to give you practical AI tools you can actually use — no tech background required.

✨ Two Tracks:
• Community Builders
• Business & Leadership

You’ll leave with real workflows, real tools, and real next steps.

Use code SBDC35 for 35% off.

Register now: www.hawaiiaisummit.com

Let’s grow together as one community.

Ready to see your future and know your numbers?

Join Hawaiʻi SBDC for a Financial Forecasting Workshop using SumoSum — the AI tool that creates 5-year financial projections for loans, investors, grants, and business growth.

✔ Fast
✔ Easy
✔ Mentors On Site
✔ No spreadsheets. Just answers.

🗓 Saturday, February 21
⏰ 10AM–12PM or 1PM–3PM
📍 University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
💲 $15 fee

Bring your laptop or smartphone. Seats are limited.

Register here:
10AM Session: https://tinyurl.com/c82vvcep
1PM Session: https://tinyurl.com/ms5uc932

From recycled soda cans to a full-time retail shop in Kailua-Kona, Candelaria Onyeabor—founder of Soda2Art—has transformed everyday aluminum into handcrafted wearable art since 2015.

With support from the Hawaiʻi SBDC, she developed a retail strategy, launched her storefront in Kailua Village, and grew her passion into a full-time income. She is now expanding her product line and preparing to hire staff, all while staying true to her sustainability mission.

“Thank you SBDC for all the help over the years as well as supporting me to successfully make the leap to full-time retailer.” — Candelaria Onyeabor

We’re proud to support Hawaiʻi’s entrepreneurs as they innovate, create, and grow.
Learn more at hisbdc.org

Hawai‘i small businesses are the heart of our economy — and they deserve support.

Hawai‘i SBDC and HI‑CAP have been working together to deliver funding guidance, market navigation, and real-time solutions to small businesses statewide.

Check out this HNN feature to learn how technical assistance can make all the difference:
📺 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I0Zk7K-qRI

Hawai‘i SBDC + HI‑CAP: Technical assistance for small business success HI‑CAP partner Hawai‘i SBDC offers legal, accounting, and finance advice, funding navigation, and training—sign up to get no‑cost help.For more Local News fr...

✨ A look back at the AWS AI Pitch Competition: Live in Honolulu! ✨

HISBDC and HTDC were proud to host this exciting event where Hawaiʻi’s brightest entrepreneurs and innovators pitched their AI-powered ideas to a panel of expert judges.

Sponsored by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and PREDICTif Solutions, finalists competed for $25,000 in AWS & PREDICTif services, showcasing how artificial intelligence can drive creativity, community, and innovation across the islands.

🌺 Mahalo to our amazing judges, sponsors, and participants for making this event such a success! It’s inspiring to see Hawaiʻi’s tech community continue to grow and push the boundaries of what’s possible.