More than 450 University of Hawaiʻi alumni and community members gathered at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in August to connect and celebrate the impact alumni have on our state and beyond. The third annual UH Alumni Association’s Makersʻ Market showcased alumni entrepreneurs and their food and products.
“I just love this event. It shows the incredible creativity and entrepreneurialism of our graduates,” said President David Lassner (PhD ‘98, UH Mānoa). “Some of them are fresh out of school and some are decades out, but they’ve all figured out something that they have a passion for and they want to share with others in Hawaiʻi and beyond.”
More than 40 alumni-owned or operated businesses shared their entrepreneurial spirits through a diverse array of food, drinks and products.
“I love participating and supporting all the different UH alumni small businesses,” said Erin Minaya (BS ‘14, UH Mānoa), of Ports + Paws. “It’s always really good energy and we have so much fun.“
“We participated in Makers’ Market because we just really love to support and give back as best we can to UH and UH alumni,” said Nick Wong (COA ‘13, Kapiʻolani Community College), of Beer Lab Hawaii.
Makers’ Market also aims to encourage and inspire future UH graduates to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. It’s one of many UH Office of Alumni Relations initiatives.
“I’m proud of what theyʻve all accomplished and I’m also really happy that they’ve chosen to spend their evening supporting UH and other alumni,” Lassner said. “Weʻre also incredibly grateful to the many sponsors in the community and other alumni who support our Makers’ Market and the work UH alumni do every day to diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy.”
