Mahalo for Making the 2025 YEP Marketplace a Success!

On Saturday, April 12, the Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) Marketplace returned to the KCC Farmers’ Market — and what an incredible day it was!

With 23 schools from across the state participating, the YEP Marketplace brought together dozens of innovative, student-run businesses selling value-added agricultural products inspired by locally sourced ingredients — grown and cultivated by boths local farmers and students. From mamaki tea blends and ʻulu cookies to tropical jams, pickled cucumbers, banana bread, and handmade self-care items, every product told a story of creativity, collaboration, and a deep connection to Hawai‘i’s agriculture.

Thousands of marketgoers—local residents and visitors alike—showed up to support these young entrepreneurs, helping them gain real-world experience in product development, marketing, and business operations. For many students, it was their first time interacting with customers, making sales, and representing their school’s brand—all skills that will serve them well in any future career.

We extend a heartfelt mahalo to the incredible teachers and mentors who guided their students every step of the way. Your commitment and creativity are the foundation of this program’s success.

We’d also like to thank our generous sponsors and supporters whose contributions help make the Young Entrepreneurs Program possible year after year. Your investment is helping shape Hawai‘i’s future leaders and strengthening our local agricultural economy.

Until next year—mahalo for being part of this journey and supporting the next generation of Hawai‘i entrepreneurs!

2025 Young Entrepreneurs Program Participants

Lahainaluna High School
Lele Local Flavours
Tropical Fruit Roll-ups
Lemon Cookies made with ʻUlu Flour
Banana Muffin Mix made with ʻUlu Flour

Lānaʻi 4H
Lānaʻi Māmaki Z Tea
Māmaki tea infused with hibiscus and lemongrass

Mililani High School
Y U Salty
– Kiawe-smoked Alaea Salt Blend
HI Blisstea
– A tea blend of cranberry, hibiscus, and mint
Let’s Get Bananas
Banana Bread made with ʻUlu Flour

Waiākea  High School
Na Koa Kreations
Lip Sugar Scrub made with hand-pressed Macadamia Nut Oil

Waipahu High School
Nā Pua ʻĀina o Waipiʻo
– Soap and Lotion Bars
– Handwoven Lauhala Flower Pins
Aquavital
– Nutrient-rich Chlorella Powder with protein, fiber, chlorophyll, vitamins, and minerals.

Washington Middle School
Trio Tea Plantation
Shiso Tea Variety Pack

Wheeler Middle School
Dill District Pickles
Original Dill and Kimchi-flavored Pickles

About the Young Entrepreneurs Program

Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation’s Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) is a one-of-a-kind, hands-on experience where Hawai‘i’s middle and high school students become real business owners! From brainstorming and developing exciting, locally sourced products to launching their brands, students get to think big, create, and sell—just like real entrepreneurs.

Through YEP, students turn ideas into reality—learning how to write business plans, manage budgets, produce and package goods, market their products, and fulfill customer orders. With start-up capital provided based on their business plans, students run their businesses for real, earning net revenue proceeds that go back to their schools

But YEP isn’t just about making sales—it’s about sparking innovation, building confidence, and strengthening Hawai‘i’s agricultural future. By using locally sourced ingredients, students gain a deeper understanding of how agriculture fuels entrepreneurship and sustainability.

From kalo chips to tropical jams, skincare products, and more, YEP students create unique, small-batch goods that showcase the flavors and resources of Hawai‘i. This program is all about having fun, thinking creatively, and gaining skills that last a lifetime.

Watch last year’s YEP Marketplace Video to see how this program is shaping Hawai‘i’s next generation of food innovators!

Mahalo to Our YEP Sponsors

The 2025 Young Entrepreneurs Program and YEP Marketplace is made possible through the generous support of businesses and organizations whose commitment to entrepreneurship and education helps cultivate future leaders in Hawai‘i’s business and agricultural industries: American Savings Bank, Atherton Family Foundation, County of Maui – Office of Economic Development, First Hawaiian Bank Foundation, G.N. Wilcox Trust, John M. Ross Foundation, JSS by Design, McInerny Foundation, and Pacific Literacy Consortium.

Funding also provided by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority through the Community Enrichment Program, and by GuavaGar Westfall Charitable Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation.